Coyote ('Kunula') and Cougar set up for their sons to play a sports game. Most of Coyote's children died. The last two of Coyote's sons chased a ball into a sweathouse and were killed by the resident the Sun (a spirit being). Later through trickery and persistence Coyote retrieved the bodies of his two sons in a bag. Because he had trouble seeing in the darkness Coyote split open the bag and his son's two bodies created light and became the physical sun and the moon in the heavens.[1]
Another "Creation" myth is that Coyote and Lizard ('Hatanutal') were in a sweathouse near Upper Lake, California. Coyote split up some willow and dogwood sticks, painted them, and set them upright in the dirt. The sticks turned into human beings with paws rather than hands. Coyote then put some hemp around them. The hemp became fleas that jumped onto the human beings. Lizard suggested the people needed hands with fingers in order to be more useful, and Coyote suggested they wrestle over that. Coyote and Lizard wrestled. Lizard won the wrestling match and thus the people as Lizard proposed were given fingers, as well as language.[2]
World order
The Pomo spoke of a sweat house in each cardinal direction.
According to Pomo ceremony and tradition, the world contained six supernatural beings (or groups of spirits) who lived at the ends of the world: one in each of the four cardinal directions, plus one above in the sky, and one below in the earth:[3]
Guksu, also called Kuksu in different Pomo languages,[4] was a supernatural being that lived at the southern end of the world. The word also means a large mosquito like insect locally known as the 'gallinipper'. Healing was his province or speciality and the Pomo medicine men or doctors made their prayers to him. He was normal size human with a very long, large and sharp red nose. He was good natured on the whole. In dance ceremonies, the impersonators of Guksu painted their bodies black, or striped red, white and black. They wore bulky, feathery headdress or a large feather tuft on their head with a yellow headband. The nose was made with feathers and painted red. The impersonators carried a staff 6 to 8 inches long with a feather tuft at top, and provided a double bone whistle. He would whistle but not speak.
Calnis lived at the eastern end of the world. In ceremonial dances Calnis associated with Guksu, he was also human form, but he was usually testy and pursued people and 'tripped them up'.[5] In dance ceremonies, the Calnis dancer was painted entirely black and carried a black staff without feathers. On his head he wore a feather cape that fell over his face.
Suupadax lived at the northern end of the world. The word is associated with a whirlwind.
Xa-matutsi lived at the western end of the world. The word is associated with the Pacific Ocean and with 'water occupation'. The Pacific Ocean was the western edge of Pomo Country, and it was therefore a very important part of their mythology. The Pomo believed the world was bounded by water along the west.
Kali-matutsi lived in the sky and heavens above. The word is associated with 'sky occupation.'
Kai-matutsi lived on the earth and below. The word associated is with 'earth occupation.'
These spirits were imagined to live in sweat houses or dance-houses at each end of the world. At times, these supernatural beings were malevolent and could kill men. However, if properly treated or placated, they were benevolent.
The person who played a Guksu in dance ceremonies was often considered the medicine man and would also dress up as a Guksu when called on to treat the sick. Sickness was seen as something that Guksu came to take away and to carry back to the south.
Guksu ceremony
The ceremony called the Guksu ceremony lasted 6 days with the above dancers appearing once a day. The 6 days included of the ceremony called 'The Scarifying Ceremony' where children ages 5 to 10 were initiated with physical and mental tests administered by the dressed up dancers.[6]
Barrett, S.A. A Composite Myth of the Pomo Indians.
References
Curtis, Edward S. The Creation and Coyote Creates Sun and Moon, as published in North American Indian, Oral stories of Pomo Indians, 1907-1930s, Volume 14, pages 170–171.
Barrett, S.A. Ceremonies of the Pomo Indians, published by University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnicity, July 6, 1917, 12:10, pages 397–441.
Gifford, Edward W, Clear Lake Pomo Society, 1926, published by University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology 18:2 pages 353-363 "Secret Society Members" (Describes E.M. Loeb 1925 investigation of the Clear Lake Pomo's practice of the Guksu religion.)
January 24, 2023
pomo, religion, indigenous, religion, pomo, people, native, americans, from, northwestern, california, centered, belief, powerful, entities, kunula, coyote, guksu, spirit, healer, from, south, contents, creation, stories, world, order, guksu, ceremony, also, n. The indigenous religion of the Pomo people Native Americans from Northwestern California centered on belief in the powerful entities of the Kunula a Coyote and Guksu a spirit healer from the south Contents 1 Creation stories 2 World order 3 Guksu ceremony 4 See also 5 Notes 6 Further reading 7 ReferencesCreation stories EditCoyote Kunula and Cougar set up for their sons to play a sports game Most of Coyote s children died The last two of Coyote s sons chased a ball into a sweathouse and were killed by the resident the Sun a spirit being Later through trickery and persistence Coyote retrieved the bodies of his two sons in a bag Because he had trouble seeing in the darkness Coyote split open the bag and his son s two bodies created light and became the physical sun and the moon in the heavens 1 Another Creation myth is that Coyote and Lizard Hatanutal were in a sweathouse near Upper Lake California Coyote split up some willow and dogwood sticks painted them and set them upright in the dirt The sticks turned into human beings with paws rather than hands Coyote then put some hemp around them The hemp became fleas that jumped onto the human beings Lizard suggested the people needed hands with fingers in order to be more useful and Coyote suggested they wrestle over that Coyote and Lizard wrestled Lizard won the wrestling match and thus the people as Lizard proposed were given fingers as well as language 2 World order Edit The Pomo spoke of a sweat house in each cardinal direction According to Pomo ceremony and tradition the world contained six supernatural beings or groups of spirits who lived at the ends of the world one in each of the four cardinal directions plus one above in the sky and one below in the earth 3 Guksu also called Kuksu in different Pomo languages 4 was a supernatural being that lived at the southern end of the world The word also means a large mosquito like insect locally known as the gallinipper Healing was his province or speciality and the Pomo medicine men or doctors made their prayers to him He was normal size human with a very long large and sharp red nose He was good natured on the whole In dance ceremonies the impersonators of Guksu painted their bodies black or striped red white and black They wore bulky feathery headdress or a large feather tuft on their head with a yellow headband The nose was made with feathers and painted red The impersonators carried a staff 6 to 8 inches long with a feather tuft at top and provided a double bone whistle He would whistle but not speak Calnis lived at the eastern end of the world In ceremonial dances Calnis associated with Guksu he was also human form but he was usually testy and pursued people and tripped them up 5 In dance ceremonies the Calnis dancer was painted entirely black and carried a black staff without feathers On his head he wore a feather cape that fell over his face Suupadax lived at the northern end of the world The word is associated with a whirlwind Xa matutsi lived at the western end of the world The word is associated with the Pacific Ocean and with water occupation The Pacific Ocean was the western edge of Pomo Country and it was therefore a very important part of their mythology The Pomo believed the world was bounded by water along the west Kali matutsi lived in the sky and heavens above The word is associated with sky occupation Kai matutsi lived on the earth and below The word associated is with earth occupation These spirits were imagined to live in sweat houses or dance houses at each end of the world At times these supernatural beings were malevolent and could kill men However if properly treated or placated they were benevolent The person who played a Guksu in dance ceremonies was often considered the medicine man and would also dress up as a Guksu when called on to treat the sick Sickness was seen as something that Guksu came to take away and to carry back to the south Guksu ceremony EditThe ceremony called the Guksu ceremony lasted 6 days with the above dancers appearing once a day The 6 days included of the ceremony called The Scarifying Ceremony where children ages 5 to 10 were initiated with physical and mental tests administered by the dressed up dancers 6 See also EditKuksu religion Pomo traditional narratives Mount Konocti Frog Woman RockNotes Edit Curtis Coyote Creates Sun and Moon Curtis The Creation Barret pages 397 430 Barret page 423 Barret page 424 Barret page 423 430Further reading EditBarrett S A A Composite Myth of the Pomo Indians References EditCurtis Edward S The Creation and Coyote Creates Sun and Moon as published in North American Indian Oral stories of Pomo Indians 1907 1930s Volume 14 pages 170 171 Barrett S A Ceremonies of the Pomo Indians published by University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnicity July 6 1917 12 10 pages 397 441 Gifford Edward W Clear Lake Pomo Society 1926 published by University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology 18 2 pages 353 363 Secret Society Members Describes E M Loeb 1925 investigation of the Clear Lake Pomo s practice of the Guksu religion Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pomo religion amp oldid 1122913403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
