Cherokee Inuit Comparison

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While Cherokee and Inuit cultures have many things in common, the Cherokee creation myth “How the World Was Made” and the Inuit creation myth “Raven” that tell about their beliefs on how the world came to be are both alike and quite different. All Native American creation myths have common themes, but several different ways of telling them. In this case, both start with describing earth as it is now, but that is where the similarities end. With two cultures accounts of two entirely different creations of earth there are bound to be quite a few differences. While both creation myths tell about how the world and all its creatures came to be, both have a very different order and way of explaining it. In the story “Raven” of the Inuit people, the world starts as nothing but plain. Man is then born from a pea pod and believes he is alone in the world. He comes to meet a Raven, who is puzzled by man. Subsequently, Raven asks where he came from and what he is. The man explains how he came from the pea pod. The raven exclaims how he had created the pod, but did not know that man would come from it. The Man begins to walk with Raven, along the way Raven explains that he must eat, and creates berries for the man to consume. The Raven goes on to create many things, including animals and mountains. Throughout this Man is by his side and learning from Raven about how to hunt fish, where to make his home, what plants are good to eat, and several other things. The story has no definite ending, other than Raven continuing to teach man all about Earth. One of this story’s defining traits is the presence of a single supreme being. This supreme being is responsible for the creation of all things all on their own. In fact this being usually directly or indirectly affects the creation and growth of man into what we know him as today. This being can also begin the creation of earth
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