This story in Native American folklore is typical of the stories told by the storyteller of the tribe. It gave definitions
of how the earth came about and what the people (Native Americans) had to do with it. However, unlike many of the folktales that I have heard before, this story calls for a unity among all people, not just one tribe in particular. It is just a really wonderful answer to overcome language barriers and to group all of the living things on earth into an effort to better the world…almost in example of a common pursuit we have today of world peace.
The story, translated by William Sheldon, tells of a Creator and Changer who created the world by starting in the east and continuing all the way to the west. As the Creator made the world, he made the people and put them in different places but gave them all different languages. When he was done, the people had to decide amongst themselves if they were happy with his creation. They weren’t. The sky was too low; they wanted it higher so a group of wise men came up with the solution to push up the sky and a common signal for all the people and
animals to know when to push. It was a universal word that everyone would understand. The people accomplished their feat but a few animals and people were caught in the push up so they became the stars of the universe and remained their forever.
I found the story to be interesting in its concept of complete unity, a difference from so many other stories. Its analogy of how people can work together despite differences to accomplish common goals.