The oral traditions of the Yokut people, indigenous to the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada region of California, tell a captivating story of creation, a time when the world as we know it was forged from the remnants of a great flood. This narrative, passed down through generations, features a majestic Eagle, a cunning Crow, and a diligent Duck, all playing crucial roles in shaping the landscape we inhabit today. This is the tale of how Eagle and Crow created the world.
In the beginning, according to Yokut cosmology, a cataclysmic flood engulfed the Earth. No land was visible, and no creatures roamed the surface. The world was a vast expanse of water, a seemingly endless sea stretching to the horizon. The sky, a brilliant azure canvas, was dotted with fluffy white clouds that occasionally danced and swirled under the gentle caress of a passing breeze. This watery realm, though seemingly tranquil, was devoid of life, save for the aquatic creatures dwelling beneath the surface.
Then, one day, a magnificent sight appeared from above. A colossal Eagle, its plumage a rich tapestry of browns and whites, descended from the heavens. Perched upon its broad back, a sleek, ebony Crow surveyed the watery landscape. These two birds, Eagle, the embodiment of strength and vision, and Crow, known for his intelligence and resourcefulness, were searching for a place to rest, a sanctuary amidst the watery desolation.
The Eagle, with his powerful wings, circled tirelessly, his keen eyes scanning the seemingly endless expanse of water. Finally, he spotted what appeared to be a projecting tree stump, a solitary, weathered form rising from the surface of the floodwaters. It was a haven, a potential resting place in a world of watery uncertainty. With a final powerful downstroke, the Eagle landed upon the stump, his weight solidifying their claim to this small piece of the submerged world.
The stump proved to be a surprisingly spacious platform, large enough for both the Eagle and the Crow to comfortably roost. From their vantage point, they gazed out at the greenish-gray water that stretched as far as their eyes could see. The scene was serene, yet daunting. The vastness of the water underscored the absence of land and other living creatures.
Life on the stump was simple, dictated by the need for survival. Small fish darted and leaped playfully beneath the surface, providing a much-needed source of sustenance. Driven by hunger, the Eagle and Crow would swoop down, their sharp talons snatching fish from the water. A game soon developed between the two birds, a friendly competition to see who could catch the most fish. Despite their competitive spirit, they always shared their bounty upon returning to their shared home on the tree stump.
The Eagle’s immense size and impressive wingspan allowed him to soar to great heights, affording him a wider perspective of the surrounding waters. He and the Crow often flew in opposite directions, diligently exploring the horizon in search of any sign of land. But their efforts proved fruitless. No land could be found, and no other flying creatures crossed their paths. Despite their lack of success, they always returned to the familiar comfort of their home base on the tree stump.
The question of how to create land became a constant source of contemplation for the Eagle and Crow. "How can we possibly think of a way to make land?" they pondered. "We know we cannot dive deep enough to find dirt, and the fish are of no help except to provide food." Their limited resources and the overwhelming presence of water seemed to present an insurmountable challenge.
Day after day, the same scenes unfolded: explorations in search of land, fruitless deliberations on how to create it, and the daily ritual of catching fish to survive. The tree stump remained their sole refuge, a constant reminder of their isolation in the watery world.
Then, one morning, a welcome change broke the monotony. A Duck appeared, swimming around and around their stump. The Duck, a tireless forager, would periodically dive deep into the water, resurfacing with small fish in its beak. It chewed and twisted its head, struggling to swallow its meal. On one particular dive, however, the Duck emerged with more mud than fish in its mouth.
This seemingly insignificant event sparked excitement in the hearts of the Eagle and Crow. "Can Duck possibly bring up enough mud for us to build land?" they wondered. The possibility, however remote, offered a glimmer of hope in their otherwise landless existence.
The challenge lay in communicating their need to the Duck. How could they convey that mud was precisely what they desired? An idea struck the Eagle, and he shared it with the Crow. "If we supply fish for Duck," he suggested, "maybe he will bring up more mud than fish."
Through a process of trial and error, the two birds began catching fish and placing them at the edge of the stump. The Duck, initially confused, soon grasped the pattern. It learned that the fish were a reward, an exchange for the mud it retrieved from the depths.
Each time the Duck surfaced after a deep dive, the Eagle and Crow would carefully brush the mud from its bill and body with their wings. Progress was slow and arduous, but it was progress nonetheless. Gradually, a small pile of mud began to accumulate on the Eagle’s side of the stump, and a similar pile grew on the Crow’s side. The birds continued to place fish on their respective sides, and the Duck, understanding the arrangement, responded by bringing up more and more mud. The exchange transformed into a cooperative game, a fish-and-mud economy that held the promise of a new world.
The Duck worked tirelessly, its hunger seemingly insatiable. The Eagle and Crow were amazed at the size of the mud piles that grew each day. "Duck is helping us to make a new world," they proclaimed. "This we will share equally."
Occasionally, the Eagle and Crow would venture towards the horizon, their explorations driven by the hope of discovering new signs of land. But they always returned empty-handed, their spirits slightly dampened. However, they did notice a subtle change: the water level around the tree stump seemed to be gradually receding.
"Surely, the flood must be coming to an end," the Crow and Eagle observed. Each day, they meticulously watched for further changes in the waterline. Each day, their piles of mud seemed to grow taller and taller. The faithful Duck continued its tireless work, and the Eagle and Crow diligently caught fish and scraped mud from its body.
One day, the Eagle flew high and far in search of dry land, returning late in the evening. The sun set, and darkness enveloped their small world on the stump. The next morning, the Eagle was pleased to see the significant amount of mud that had accumulated during his absence. But his pleasure turned to astonishment when he looked at the Crow’s mud pile. He saw that the Crow had given himself twice as much mud while the Eagle was away.
"Was this Crow’s idea of sharing the new world equally?" the Eagle questioned, his voice laced with accusation. A heated quarrel erupted between the two birds, fueled by the Crow’s perceived unfairness. The argument raged throughout the day and into the next. However, on the following day, they reluctantly returned to the task of building their new land. The Eagle, determined to catch up, doubled his efforts. He caught two fish for the Duck and placed them in his usual spot. The Duck responded by bringing up twice as much mud to the Eagle in exchange for the two fish. The team of three worked diligently for many moons.
Gradually, the Eagle’s half of the new world began to rise higher and higher than the Crow’s half, even though the Crow appeared to be working just as hard. The Duck remained faithful to its task, never tiring in its effort to supply mud. And, as agreed, the Duck continued to give the Eagle twice as much mud for his two fish. The Crow, perhaps oblivious to the subtle economic shift, never seemed to notice why the Eagle’s half was growing at a faster rate.
One morning, as the sun rose brightly, the two birds looked down through the water and saw what appeared to be land beneath the surface. "So that is where Duck finds the mud," they realized. They were overjoyed to see that the water was continuing to recede. They hoped that soon they would be standing high and dry on their new world.
But their hopes were soon challenged. That very night, lightning flashed across the sky, and thunder rumbled from one horizon to the other, followed by a torrential downpour. The Eagle and Crow sought shelter in holes they dug into the sides of their mud piles. All night long, the rain continued to fall, washing away much of their new creation into the sea.
As the rain finally stopped and the sun rose, the Eagle and Crow looked out upon the waters and witnessed a breathtaking sight: an arc of vibrant colors stretching from one edge of the horizon across the sky to the other. This brilliant display, a rainbow, held their eyes in wonderment. What did it mean? They marveled at how long the colors lingered in the sky. The Eagle flew towards the scene for a closer look, returning when the arc finally disappeared.
The Eagle and Crow decided that the storm must have been a cleansing shower, a necessary step in the creation process. They resumed their land-building project, hoping that the Duck would continue its work as a mud-carrier. Soon, the sun’s rays burned strong and hot, baking the mud until it hardened. The Duck reappeared, and the team of three continued to build the two halves of the new world.
Day by day, the waters subsided, and new land began to emerge above the waterline, far below the new creation of the Eagle and Crow. The Eagle’s half of the new world grew taller and taller, its mud hardened by the intense sun. The Crow’s share of the new world was still substantial, but it never quite reached the same height as the Eagle’s.
In the retelling of this creation story, Yokut tribal historians always claim that the Eagle’s half of the new world became the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains, the towering range that defines the eastern boundary of California’s Central Valley. They also assert that the Crow’s half became known as the Coast Mountain Range, the rugged mountains that line the Pacific coast.
Yokut historians conclude their tale by stating that people everywhere honor the brave and strong Eagle, while the Crow is accorded a lesser place due to his perceived unfairness during the creation of the new world. The story serves as a reminder of the importance of cooperation, diligence, and fairness in all endeavors. And that is the story of how Eagle and Crow created the world.
