The Potawatomi Creation Story begins not on Earth, as we know it, but in a realm impossibly distant, a place beyond the reach of any earthly traveler. Imagine a land perpetually locked in winter’s embrace, a frozen expanse reminiscent of the North Pole, but infinitely more remote. It is in this desolate, icy domain that we first encounter Wisaka, a central figure in the genesis of the Potawatomi world.
Wisaka, we learn, once resided on Earth alongside his younger brother. However, their presence attracted the ire of the Manitou, a powerful collective of supernatural forces. The Manitou, beings of immense power and influence, perceived Wisaka and his brother as a threat or perhaps an unwelcome disruption to the established order.
Driven by this antagonism, the Manitou convened a council, a gathering of their formidable powers, to devise a means of eliminating Wisaka and his sibling. The decision they reached was drastic and destructive: to engulf the entire world in flames, a conflagration intended to consume Wisaka and his brother along with everything else.
The Manitou unleashed their fiery wrath upon the Earth. The younger brother of Wisaka succumbed to the inferno, perishing in the all-consuming flames. Wisaka, however, proved resilient. He managed to survive the initial assault, though the world around him was irrevocably scarred by the Manitou’s destructive act.
Undeterred, the Manitou then unleashed a cataclysmic flood, hoping to drown Wisaka and complete their mission of annihilation. The waters rose relentlessly, inundating the land and forcing Wisaka to seek higher ground. He ascended a towering mountain, desperately trying to outpace the encroaching deluge.
As the waters continued to rise, Wisaka found himself running out of mountain. In a stroke of fortune, or perhaps divine intervention, he discovered a colossal pine tree at the mountain’s summit. He began to climb, its rough bark offering a precarious hold against the raging waters below. To his astonishment, a canoe awaited him at the very top of the pine tree. He gratefully clambered aboard, finding a temporary refuge from the watery chaos.
Alone in his canoe, surrounded by nothing but water, Wisaka drifted aimlessly. The vastness of the watery expanse, the absence of any land, filled him with despair. He wept, mourning the loss of his brother and the destruction of the world he once knew.
After a time, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. Wisaka noticed a distant, shining object, a beacon in the endless water. With renewed determination, he began to paddle towards it, his canoe cutting through the waves.
As he drew closer to the shining object, a muskrat emerged from the water and climbed aboard the canoe. Addressing Wisaka with respect, the muskrat said, "Greetings, grandfather! Why are you crying?"
Wisaka, weary and disheartened, replied, "I have been here a long time, and I cannot find any land."
The muskrat responded with surprising wisdom, "But there is earth under all this water!"
Seizing upon this glimmer of hope, Wisaka implored the muskrat to retrieve some of the earth for him. Without hesitation, the muskrat dove beneath the surface, returning moments later with both paws full of mud. He dove again, this time surfacing with a ball of earth held firmly in his mouth. However, Wisaka, though grateful, deemed this small amount of earth insufficient to rebuild the world.
Wisaka then inquired if the muskrat was alone. The muskrat replied that he was not, and proceeded to issue a call that resonated across the water. Soon, the animal chiefs of the water – the leaders of various aquatic creatures – swam up to the canoe. Among them was a white muskrat, who addressed Wisaka, saying, "I hear that you want to see us."
Wisaka confirmed their suspicions, explaining his plight and his desire to recreate the world. "Yes," he said, "I want you to bring me some earth so I can make the world. I will make it a good world where we can all live."
The animal chiefs, moved by Wisaka’s plea and his vision of a harmonious world, readily agreed to assist him. They began to dive into the depths, each returning with a mouthful or pawful of earth. Wisaka, now referred to as Grandfather, carefully kneaded the mud they brought, molding it into a long, sturdy column that reached from the surface of the water down to the original earth beneath.
This column of earth gradually rose above the waves, forming the foundation of the new world. The animal chiefs continued their tireless work, day after day, adding more and more earth to the growing landmass. Eventually, the column solidified, creating a substantial expanse of land. Wisaka then planted a great tree upon this newly formed island, symbolizing life and growth. He continued to expand the island, carefully shaping it to his liking.
As Wisaka labored on the northern end of the island, he observed that the ground was becoming dry and dusty. He consulted with his animal helpers, asking for their opinion of his creation. They responded that it was a good place to bask in the sun. Wisaka, however, was not satisfied. He instructed them to continue bringing him earth, promising to improve the land further.
And so, Wisaka continued his work, refining and perfecting the world until it met his vision. He then announced to his animal friends that the land would soon be covered with lush green grass and trees, transforming the barren landscape into a vibrant ecosystem.
Using a stick as a guide, Wisaka marked out the courses for the rivers, dictating where the water would flow. He then tasked the muskrats with digging out the channels, ensuring that the rivers would follow his intended paths.
With the land finally taking shape, Wisaka built himself a wigwam, a dwelling suited to his needs. He noticed the muskrats residing in a nearby lake and, in a gesture of gratitude, planted rushes along the shoreline for their benefit, providing them with food and shelter.
Satisfied with his progress, Wisaka embarked on another ambitious project. He got into his canoe and paddled out into the ocean, once again calling upon the muskrats to assist him in building another world. He worked tirelessly, adding earth to the existing landmass until the two worlds merged seamlessly. "Now," he declared, "I have it the way that I want it."
One day, while walking on the northern end of his island, Wisaka encountered a group of people. Approaching them, he inquired about their origins. They identified themselves as the Potawatomi and, in turn, asked Wisaka who he was.
"I am Wisaka," he replied.
The Potawatomi responded, "Well, we have heard of you. You must have come from above, as we did."
Wisaka corrected their assumption, stating, "No, I have always been here, and I made this earth and all that you can see on it."
One of the Potawatomi, awestruck by Wisaka’s revelation, exclaimed, "Well then, you must be the Great Spirit!"
Wisaka affirmed their declaration, saying, "Yes, that is who I am. Who can do any more than I have?"
Demonstrating his generosity and his care for the Potawatomi, Wisaka asked the muskrats to dive into the lake and fetch him some tasty roots. When he had gathered a sufficient quantity, he instructed them to stop and then distributed the roots among the Potawatomi people, providing them with sustenance.
The Potawatomi camped near Wisaka’s lodge, and he generously lent them his cooking utensils, sharing his resources with them. He further instructed them in the art of making clay pots, teaching them how to prepare their food using the resources available to them.
Wisaka then led the Potawatomi into the forest that he had created, revealing its bounty and its potential. He taught them how to peel bark from the trees and craft household utensils, such as baskets, from the natural materials. He showed them how to make string to tie their lodge poles together, providing them with the means to construct their dwellings.
He instructed them on how to gather and prepare reeds to weave mats, and how to construct rush-mat wigwams, providing them with comfortable and practical shelters. The next day, Wisaka announced that the world would soon be populated with animals, and, as if by magic, deer, buffalo, and other game appeared, providing the Potawatomi with a source of food and resources.
Furthermore, the Potawatomi Creation Story tells that Wisaka also established the clan structure within the Potawatomi society. He bestowed upon each clan a sacred medicine bundle, which he delivered to individuals in the past through dreams or visions. He instructed each clan in the specific ways and ceremonies required to utilize these sacred bundles, ensuring their proper use and preservation.
In this comprehensive and profound manner, Wisaka, the Great Spirit, made the world right for the Potawatomi, providing them with not only a physical environment but also a social structure, cultural knowledge, and spiritual guidance. The Potawatomi Creation Story explains the origin of their world and their place within it. The Potawatomi Creation Story is more than just a tale; it is a foundational narrative that shapes their identity and their relationship with the world around them. It is a testament to the power of creation, the importance of community, and the enduring wisdom of the Great Spirit.