When Teharonhiawako created all the waters, plants, trees and animals of the world, he decided that he should create a being in his likeness from the natural world.
He wanted this being to have a superior mind so it would have the responsibility of looking after his creations. Then he decided it would be better if he created more than one being and give to each similar instructions and see if over a period of time, they would carry them through.
The first being Teharonhiawako made was from the bark of a tree; the second from the foam of the great salt water; the third from the black soil, and the fourth from the red earth.
All this he did in one day. He started in the early morning as the sun greeted the new day by picking certain types of bark from the tree of life and created a human form, reflected against the sky the form gave a yellowish appearance. Teharonhiawako decided that this would be one type of human that would exist on this world. After Teharonhiawako finished his first human, he then went to the great salt waters and took from the sea some white foam, together with other elements of the natural world he created another being. This being appeared pale in contrast to the natural surroundings, but he was satisfied that he has [sic] created another special kind of human being. Next Teharonhiawako traveled to the thickest part of a large forest and brought out some black soil, again with other elements of the natural world he created another human being. This being was very dark in color and he was pleased that he had created still another type of being for the world.
Now Teharonhiawako thought to himself, it is getting towards the end of the day and I have created three beings, since everything on this world exists in cycles of four, I will create one more being. Thus he again looked for something different within the natural world and this time he found some reddish-brown earth. With this he again combined other elements from the land and created a human form. When he finished he observed that this from blending very well with the natural surroundings, especially against the setting sun, which gave the form a reddish color.
Teharonhiawako now gathered the four human forms into one area and said to himself, "I have been very careful in providing certain characteristics into each form that will reflect their own unique and strong qualities. I will now give life to each form and see if they benefit from their gifts."
As the beings came to life he observed just how evident their uniqueness became. The white being was the first one to move about, he was also the most curious, observing closely all his surroundings. Next, the black and yellow slowly started to move about. When the black being picked a brightly colored object that he was attracted to, the white being pounced on him and pushed him to the ground, taking over the object. At the same instant, the yellow being stood up for the black and soon, a fight broke out between the three.
Teharonhiawako noticed that the fourth being was still sitting on the ground, camouflaged by his surroundings. Now it became clear to Teharonhiawako that there was no way these four could exist in the same environment and survive.
Teharonhiawako stopped their quarrelling and brought them back to one place and told them "There is a reason why you were not created in the same manner, just as there are birds and animals who look alike, they are different in their ways, so are you. They have their own language, their own songs but have learned to share their world,. It is for this reason that I have created you, that in time you will all learn to respect and appreciate your differences. It is very evident that I can not put you together to watch over my creations, for you would probably destroy it as well as yourselves. You need to learn how to get along with each other, as well as with other living things. I will help you do this, but first I will have to keep you apart. You will come back together after a time when I have sent a messenger to visit each of you and give you a way to be thankful for the good things, as well as respect for other living creatures."
Teharonhiawako then took the white, black and yellow beings across the salt waters and placed them far from each other. The red being he kept at his place of origin. Teharonhiawako told him, "You will be called Onkwehonwe (original being). You will call me Sonkwaiatison (The Creator). I have given you the gift of life. You were created from the earth of this Island. I now realize that you would not survive very long among the others, for you are too much a part of nature, which is good, but you will need time before you come in contact with the other beings. You will also be given a sacred way by a messenger who will visit you and your descendants."
Now Teharonhiawako thought to himself, "They will all have a chance to learn of the reason for their existence and of a good way to live."
