The Creation of Man and Woman: Lenape Teachings.
THE UNAMI TRADITION OF THE LENAPE maintains that Kishelamakank created the universe through a vision. The name KISHELAMAKANK means "the Great One who created the universe in a vision." A great flood inundated the first creation. Manabuzho, a Spirit Helper appointed by Kishelamakank, restored the pesent creation from a patch of mud on the back of the turtle after the great flood. The picture above shows a tree from which grew a man. A branch of the tree bent down to the soil and grew another tree from which grew a woman. The story suggests the centrality of an interdependent creation. The story indicates the importance of "vision quest" in which the seeker discovers a place in this universe. The story also points to the reverence for all forms of life that is often illustrated in Lenape literature. This reverence for life impels the indigenous people to thank ritualistically the spirit of the killed deer or the spirit of the tree whose bark or leaves the medicine man is breaking. There are no "victims" in the process of natural balance. This is the original meaning of THANKSGIVING from the original people of this "new world!" People with this vision surely shall flourish. May we all benefit from this lofty vision.
--- Jacob Rayapati.
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