Guest Author - Phyllis Doyle Burns
This article was written by our previous editor, Phyllis Doyle Burns, and all rights are reserved. For inquiries and comments, please contact the current editor, Jane Winkler.
Great Spirit is known to the Chickasaw people as Ababinili, the Spirit of Fire and the Sun. Ababinili is the giver of life, light, and warmth.
After Ababinili sent Rain to Mother Earth to cause a Great Flood, only one family and a pair of each animal and bird survived. When the waters receded, the family saw Raven with an ear of corn. Ababinili told the people to plant the corn.
After the Flood, Ababinili caused Earth to be destroyed by Fire. He told the people that once again Earth would be flooded then cleansed by Fire.
Ababinili, the Great Mystery,instructed the people how to live long and healthy lives. Moon, Sun, Wind, Rainbow, Thunder, Fire, and Water, who lived on Mother Earth turned to Ababinili in concern for His children, the people.
A Chickasaw Legend
retold by P.D. Burns
The Moon, Sun, Wind, Rainbow, Thunder, Fire and Water came to visit with Ababinili along with one human. Thunder asked Ababinili if he would make the people of the world his children. Ababinili told him, "No, they can't be your children, but they can be your grandchildren. If anything arises which is heavy on the people of the world, you can be their sinker for those things."
The Sun asked the same question and Ababinili answered this way, "No, they can't be your children, but they can be your friends and grandchildren. You can be only for the purpose of giving them light to lead them through this life."
Then the Moon asked if they could be his children. Ababinili said to him, "No, I can't do that but they can be your nephews and friends."
Fire then asked if the people of the world could be made his children, and Ababinili replied saying, "No, the people of this world can't be your children, but they can be your grandchildren. While they are growing up, you can keep them warm and cook their foods so they can eat well."
Now Wind asked Ababinili if she could have the humans as her children, but again, Ababinili said, "No, they can't be your children, but they can be your grandchildren so you can remove the unclean air and all kinds of diseases."
Next, Rainbow asked for the people of the earth to be hers. Ababinili replied saying, "No, they can't be your children, but you can prevent floods and rainy weather when it's not needed. You can honor yourself that way."
Then Water asked if he could be father to all the people of the earth. "No, the people of the earth can't be your children. What you can do is wash them clean so they can live long and healthy lives. We will name you Misha Sapohkne, for this reason."
Ababinili then said to all of them, "I have told you all how to guide yourselves and what to do. You must remember that these children are my children." This is what the old ones used to tell us.
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