The old ones tell us that in the “First World”, “Corn Mother” came with us into the “Circle of Life”. And as we began to move away from Balance and Harmony of Life, we did not know her. In the last world, “Corn Mother” lived with her two Grandsons in the Mountains.

She was old and very wise. She sang and made the world around her very beautiful. One day, “Corn Mother” watched her grandsons preparing to hunt. She thought of the days long ago when People and the Creatures of the woods all spoke a common language and understood each other. There was respect for all Life. It was a world of peace and happiness. There was abundance and respect. All was appreciated. People sat in the “Circle of Wisdom Keepers” and was honored and respected by all.

It was a good for “Earth Mother” and all Creation. People began to have greed. The balance was lost. “Corn Woman” remembered the “Great Council” of the last world, where the animals had determined not to allow people to kill them all off with their hunting game. That peoples relentless hunger was a threat to their cycles of life. People over hunted and killed many “Relations” in the food chain. Many, such as the Deer, put forth a punishment to all who would eat their flesh. And this was the first disease of man. And thus came, “Medicine”. “Corn Mother” remembered how terrible it was for the animals in the woods when they could smell people and knew had come to kill them. “Corn Mothers” heart was heavy, it was a long time ago, she thought.

It is time to begin again and seek the “Harmony” and regain the “Balance”. People need to return to the “Wisdom Fires Above”. People need to be “Honorable”. “Creator” combined all the Creations into People. People hold all the patterns of principles within their “Body”, “Mind” and “Spirit”. “Corn Mother” saw how the “Creator” had given people all the gifts and how they had lost them with all their greed. “Corn Mother” saw her grandsons getting ready for the kill. She knew there was more than enough food in their home to feed everyone. She went to her grandson and spoke, you are going out today? The oldest replied, yes, we prepare to hunt. “Corn Mother” said, We have so much already. Let me cook you a wonderful dinner. The younger grandson answered, no, we must hunt. “We are hunters”. We will bring you many Turkeys. “Corn Mother” tried again, But we have many “Turkeys” already and I will make you Corn and you will feel full and not have the need to hunt. The grandsons continued to get ready to hunt. We will be back by evening and you will see, we will bring you fresh meat.

“Corn Mother” wished them well and asked them to respect all, and show appreciation to the animals. The grandsons laughed and went into the forest. “Corn Mother” cooked and made a meal that tempted all. She sang and blessed the meal. Soon her grandsons came into the clearing around their lodge. They had smelled the meal for miles and were happy to see it came from their lodge. “Corn Mother” was happy to see them, and as she put the food on the table, she saw they had killed a boar pig. They ate and could not say enough about how good the meal was and how good it was to have the corn stuffing and spices, with the Turkeys. “Corn Mother” have so much to eat, we do not need to kill the animals. They said they were tired and needed to sleep, so they could get up early and be out before the deer. “Corn Mother” listened and she asked them again how they liked the food she had made. They told her they loved the food and never had they eaten so much and tasted anything as good as the corn. They asked her where she had gotten the corn, and she did not answer.

She was happy they loved the meal and was planning the feast for the next day. She sang as the night moved over the lands. The next morning, very early, they were up and went for their weapons. She went to them again and said, we have so much left from yesterday, and a fresh boar from the hunt also, we have so much. Do you really have to go hunting? Yes, they said, we are hunters, today we will bring you a big deer. “Corn Mother” looked at her grandsons. She loved them very much and she knew they loved her also. They went to hunt and she cooked. The meal was even more wonderful than the day before. The smells went throughout the woods. Everyone knew “Corn Mother” was cooking a feast. Her grandsons smelled the sweet of corn while they were hunting. They remembered the taste, and that they had never tasted anything that good ever before. As evening came, the grandsons came home with their kill. It was a fine deer. They were very good hunters, the kill had been quick and the deer did not suffer. For this, “Corn Mother” appreciated the skill of her grandsons. They followed the wonderful smells of corn and sat down to a feast like none ever before. They gave her the deer as their token of thanks. She knew it was an honorable act to them, she thanked them and took the deer. After dark, she returned it to the forest. “Corn Mother” sang her song as the hunters drifted into dreams of laughter and play. In the dreams, they saw their grandmother as a beautiful young woman, more beautiful then any they had seen. She sang throughout the night. They awakened early and felt so good. They felt strong and youthful again. They were laughing and felt playful as they were children. The Sun came up in glorious colors. As they prepared to hunt, they realized they were not in such a hurry to go to the forest and hunt. They asked “Corn Mother” to make them breakfast, and she did. Fried corn mush and sweet honey, as they ate, it tasted so good they ate more than they needed and were so full, they needed to nap. They noticed that “Corn Mother” looked younger, and was so happy, she sang and sang. The Sun was high by the time they were ready to go hunt.

As they were leaving, “Corn Mother” asked them not to go, “We have so much food now, more than we will ever be able to eat. “No”, they said, we must go hunt, we are hunters. Today we will hunt “Turkeys.” “Corn Mother” watched as they left to go hunt and called out after them to remember to appreciate the animals. While out on the hunt, the youngest brother said to the older one, where does “Corn Mother” get this corn that she is cooking? The older brother said he didn’t and that it did not matter to him. It was good and “Corn Woman” would only feed them what was good, that was what he knew.

All that day, the young man thought about the corn, as evening came, they returned home with the turkeys. They were eager to sit down and again eat the good corn. They told her how much they liked how she fixed their meal and how beautiful she was and how happy the home was because of her beauty and grace. The “Hunters” went to sleep to gained strength for the next days hunt. They awakened to the soft humming of “Corn Mother” as she prepared the breakfast, of grits and butter, with sweet maple syrup. “Corn Mother” looked even younger and happier than yesterday. The younger grandson was very curious and kept asking “Corn Mother” where she got the corn. She would smile and say, I make the corn, it is my gift to my Grandchildren. Another time she answered, “I am the corn.”

He was not satisfied and he began to annoy the older brother with his questions. “Let us go hunt and stop all these questions now. She told you she makes the corn and that is enough for me. “Corn Mother” beamed her heart upon her oldest Grandson and he felt her love. It gave peace to have her in his home. The younger brother was not satisfied. He said, Yes, it is good, and yes, I have never had anything better, but I want to know where it comes from, and I will find out. Off they went to hunt and “Corn Mother” sang as she cleaned and cared for the home and land. She gave appreciation for all the relations and sang to them all. While the hunters were hunting, the younger brother kept insisting that they needed to know where she gets the corn. The older brother ask him why and he said he just must know. Are we not happier than ever before? Can you ask for more? Just be thankful and happy she has given this to us, and how fortunate we are to have her. The young man could not accept this, and said I will go watch and see where she goes and gets this corn. He left the older brother and sneaked back home to spy on “Corn Mother”. He watched her take a huge basket and go to the root cellar. There he watched her through a small hole as she stood in the basket and slapped her sides. Each time she slapped her sides, corn would fall into the basket. She continued until her basket was filled to the top. He was terrified and ran to find his brother in the forest hunting. “Corn Mother” gave some of the corn pollen to the bees for honey and to the Earth for some tasty roots and herbs and salad greens. She fed corn pollen to the birds for singing as she worked and was generous to all the relations. Everyone was happy and the world was a better place. She cooked for her Grandsons and sang of beauty and happiness. The Grandson ran back to the older brother and said what he saw and that the corn was “Corn Mother” body. The older brother was heavy in his heart. And he said to his brother, if what you say is true, then it is not a good thing we do. We cannot eat our Grandmother. How is this that she can make her body turn to corn? This is strange and unsafe and not of this world. Something is not good here and I cannot understand this thing. We must be careful, something has taken our Grandmother.

It grew dark and they started home. The smell was so tempting and they could feel their stomachs ache for the corn. They heard music all around their lands and “Corn Mother” singing. Their hearts were in pain as they knew they feared her for all she was. At dinner, she heaped up their plates with all the delicious things of the lands and watched as they picked at it and ate little or nothing. She grew sad as she watched and realized they knew what they could not live with and know. The Knowledge was too much for them and it had destroyed the balance between them and the world. “Corn Mother” asked them, do you not love me? Have I not given you all of myself? Have you not felt the peace and happiness in my life with you?

As “Corn Mother” spoke, she grew very old and became very ill and her life began to leave her body. The Earth grew cold and all was silent. A long night fell upon the Forest and the Grandsons cried for what had happened. The youngest was unhappy for his loss and asked for forgiveness. “Corn Mother” asked them to come to her side and listen well. I have much to tell you, she said, “and we have but a little time now as I am. I am as old as the soil, and first man. I am the Corn. I was given to you as your substances and as “Abundance”, “Happiness”, “Health” and “Peace”. I am “Corn Mother”, I am the “Corn Mother”. She told them to take her form when she passed over to pure Spirit, place it in the soil, and make a circle around it. I will return to you in a cycle as a plant, that grows tall and strong. I will have golden hair at the top, and I will have ears of golden seeds at my sides that will also have hair. When it turns brown, you will pick it, and peel back its sweet leaves and dry the seeds. There will be seven ears of the corn, do not eat them, use all of them as seeds. When the spring comes, make mounds as the woman in her birthing place, and make a planting stick as your own seed planter is shaped and insert it into the mounds, you cultivate and place two seeds in each hole. Go to the “Old River Man” and ask his children the fish, to come and bring the “Water Spirits” to the land, so the corn can grow. Place a fish in each hole and add the seeds. This corn you will not eat. You will use as offerings and seeds for the sacred ways of the “Land” and “Waters.” “Corn Mother” told them many things to make “Life” good again. She told them when to plant and how to speak and hear the Moon. She told them to sing and dance and what the “Ancients” had given us. She told them she loved them and that they were to keep well and safe. She was given to show us how to keep the joy of life and to maintain the balance. The wisdom was much and the Grandsons were happy that “Corn Mother” was their Grandmother and that her love lived in all things.

When she passed to “Spirit World” to wait for her return, they would not hunt unless they were nearly starving and they did as she had instructed. They became wise. When the Spring came after “Corn Mother” had passed, the youngest brother went for a wife. When he came home, his wife was given the “Wisdom of “Corn Mother”, and she had memory of the “Old One’s Ways” and they planted and harvested the corn as it was to them and happiness was with their children.

“Corn Mother” says to us to come home and open to the “Wisdom” of
the “First World”.

A woman pounded corn in a favorite corn mill made from a tree trunk. Smooth with age, it was about two feet wide and three or four feet tall. She dropped corn inside and pounded it with a pole into fine meal.

As she pounded she noticed the corn disappeared faster than meal was ground. She pounded harder and faster, but she still lost more corn than she made meal. After pounding all her corn, she gathered her small portion of meal.

She waited for the next woman to pound her corn to see if the same thing happened. This woman pounded her corn but made very little meal. Now both were suspicious. They waited for the next woman. She pounded her corn, then gathered a small amount too. Now three women waited to watch the next one. This woman pounded and pounded, but the corn disappeared and little meal replaced it.

They discussed the situation, then decided something must be wrong with the corn mill. They turned the mill this way and that, and then realized it was not the same old mill they always used.

One woman called for an axe to split the mill in half so they could see inside. As a woman ran to get it, the mill fell on its side and rolled around on the ground. The women jumped back in astonishment.

Coyote leaped up from what had been the corn mill and ran away. All the women laughed. Now they understood that Coyote had hidden the old corn mill and then turned into a mill to eat all their corn.

from Texas Indian Myths and Legends by Jane Archer

http://www.texasindians.com/caddo.htm

corn meal

boiling water

(1 part corn meal to 4 parts water)

Add to pot of boiling water enough cornmeal to thicken. Add slowly, but stir briskly to keep from making lumps. Cook until meal is thoroughly done and mushy.

When Wtsiielohino had been populated for some time, all the animals became restless. The different councils of animals pondered the situation. The Deer Tribe came to the conclusion that there was something missing from creations, so they called on the Creator and asked her to complete the circle, and she agreed to what they had asked of her.

One day while the Deer Tribe was patrolling their land, they came across a creature they had never seen before. He stood on his hind legs and had long hair growing from his head. He was the First Man, or Lucky Hunter. The deer hid in order to watch his actions.

When the First Man was put on Mother Earth, he was instructed on how to live by the Creator. She taught him how to use all the parts of the deer in order to eat, make clothing, and fasten his bow with extracted sinew. She told him to always offer tobacco so the spirit of his deer cousins would remain happy. The Creator also showed him how to build a shelter where he could stay safe and warm. He then was left to go out on his own.

Days, weeks and months passed with the Deer Tribe watching the Lucky Hunter intently. They became confused by the way he carried himself. He walked around aimlessly. Even worse, he shot too many deer with his bow and arrows until their population became very scarce. He also forgot to leave tobacco when hunting. He slept every night out on the cold or muddy earth. He never attempted to build a shelter as the Creator had instructed him to do. His walk was clumsy and awkward and he constantly muttered to himself.

He was not leading a balanced life; he truly was a fool. The Deer Tribe, sensing the problem this new being was causing, called upon the Creator to correct this unfortunate situation.

Things remained the same until one afternoon when the Lucky Hunter laid down on his back for an afternoon snooze. As he lay there resting in the warm sun, a giant selu (corn) stalk grew out of his heart extending high into the sky. The stalk grew higher and higher. As the Lucky Hunter pondered what had happened, he noticed a beautiful woman appearing from the top of the stalk. She was the First Woman or Corn Maiden. The Lucky Hunter reached high into the sky and helped her down from the top of this fine creation. He instantly fell in love, and she told the First Man that they would now go to build their home.

Before leaving, the First Woman took two pieces of corn, so that she would always remember where she came from. When she found a place where they would build their home, she planted the corn. They began working on their home. Soon it was completed and they seemed very content. For two years they watched the corn come and go. How they loved to watch the beautiful corn. Looking out the window one morning, the Corn Maiden and the Lucky Hunter spotted Gana (the Sacred Turkey) nibbling on the selu. They had never known that corn was meant to be eaten.

Their diet became complete once the couple started to eat the corn. The Deer Tribe increased in numbers as the First Woman taught the First Man how to live a true life. He began to give thanks and walk in a steady way. You see, the woman is the most important of creation, she brought balance to the world.

Years went by and life remained peaceful for them. Suddenly, one afternoon as the Lucky Hunter was chopping wood in the yard, Corn Maiden became very angry. She dashed from the house and ran towards the mountains. The First Man, in a state of confusion, chased after her, but to no avail. She ran much faster than him. For every mountain he crossed, she would cross three. Finally realizing that he would never catch her, he fell to his knees and asked the Creator to help him. The Creator promised him that she would try her best.

The Corn Maiden ran and ran. Thorn buses started to appear on her path, but she continued to run without noticing the pain they caused. Other bushes sprung onto the path of many beautiful colors and fragrant smells. Gooseberries, blue- berries, and huckleberries. The First Woman paid them no attention. As she ran she simply crushed them under her feet.

Then bushes filled with heart shaped berries appeared on the path. The smell and sight of these berries caused her to stop. She decided that she would pick some of the berries.

As she gathered, the Lucky Hunter continued running until he caught up to her. As she noticed him coming, a smile came over her face. She had tested his love and respect.

They gathered berries together. When they started to return home, he took two of the strawberry plants to remind him of what had saved his life. After reaching their home, he planted the two strawberry plants next to the two stalks of selu. The world continued in balance.

And this is what I was told. Cedric Sunray.

Old Corn-woman lived with a certain boy. When she was out of corn she went to the corn house, entered, and when she came out had a basket full of corn with which she made hominy. One time while they were living in this way the boy looked into the corn house and there was nothing there. He thought, “Where does she get the corn? Next time she goes in I will watch her.” Presently the corn gave out again and when the boy saw Corn-woman start to enter the corn house he peeked through a crack. There she sat astride of a basket, and when she shook and made a noise the basket was filled. But he thought she was defecating into it. “I will not eat (lit., drink) any hominy this time,” he thought, and ran off.

When the hominy was cooked he would not eat any, and from that she knew that he had seen her. She said, “If you think I am filthy, your kinfolks are alive–your grandmother, your aunt, your uncle, your second father,[1] your elder brother, your sister, your mother, and your father. I took you from them, but now that you think I am filthy you may go back. But I will provide for you before you go. First you must kill me and then burn down the house and reduce it to a bed of coals. Then you must go away. But before that go and hunt some birds.”

So the boy started out, killed birds and brought them in, but she kept saying to him, “Another kind,” and he went off again and killed others. But when he got back she said “Another kind,” and he went out hunting again. He hunted about and brought different kinds of birds. Finally he brought blue jays and parrakeets. “Those are the ones,” she said to him.

Then she brought the birds all to life, placed the parrakeets on one shoulder and the blue jays on the other, the chickadees in the center of the top of his head, the topknot birds back of his shoulders, and the others around his belt. She also made and gave him a flute and when he made a noise by blowing upon it all of the birds sang.

“Quum profisceris,” ei dicebat illa, “alicubi in via mulieribus pravis obviam venies quae te ut cum eis concumbas sollicitabunt. Cum eis vero ne concumbas quia in verendis suis dentes habent qui tuum penem abscindent. Facias tibi penem lapideum et quum mulieri quartae obvenies cum ea concumbas.”

After that he killed Corn-woman, burned the house down to a bed of coals, and then started off. He went along blowing upon his flute and the birds were singing. Mox cuidam mulieri appropinquanti obveniebat quae cum sollicitabat ut cum ea coiret. Recusabat pergebatque. Aliae mulieri appropinquanti obveniebat quae etiam eum sollicitabat ut cum ea coiret, atque iterum recusabat pergebatque. Et alia veniebat quae eum sollicitabat ut cum ea coiret atque iterum recusabat pergebatque. Deinde obviam ei veniebat quarta mulier quae etiam eum sollicitabat ut cum ea coiret. Ille assentiebatur et ambo concumbebant. Postquam paulisper concubuerunt penis suus lapideus dentes verendorum mulieris frangebat. Ea ibi plorans cubabat et ille eam derelinquebat atque pergebat.

As he was going along he met Rabbit coming toward him, who made friends as soon as he saw him. “Where are you going?” Rabbit said to him. “I am going to my mother’s.” “I live close by. Let us go back together. I am going into the creek to tie up turtles. Let us go back and tie up turtles together and then we will go on. I am going close by the place.” The youth was unwilling to go but Rabbit, who wanted to fool him, overcame his objections and they turned back.

When they got to the creek they peeled off hickory bark for ropes, took off their clothing and went into the water. Rabbit said to his companion, “When I say ‘Now!’ we will dive under water together.” So they went to a place which was rather deep and Rabbit said, “Now!” The youth dived, but Rabbit went out, seized his companion’s clothes, and carried them away.

After the youth had tied his turtles together by the legs he came out of the water and found that his clothing was gone. He stood thinking for a while with his head hanging down, and when he looked about saw a persimmon tree standing near. He climbed it, shook off some persimmons and rubbed them all over his body. Then he started on.

When he came to a house the people thought he was filthy and gave him food out at the edge of the yard. He went on for a while in this way until he came to where an old woman lived. That person looked upon him kindly. Then she cleansed him, and they lived together. The old woman said, “I want some fish.” So the youth went to the creek. Afterwards he came back and said to her, “A sick fish was lying there which I put into the canoe, but if you want it you can go and get it.” So the two started out. When they got down to the canoe it was full of fishes. “If you can not carry them all away,” he said to her, “tell your kinsfolk if you have any and let them get them.” So the old woman told them and they came and carried the fish away.

Rabbit heard how the young man had divided the fish. He said to his wife, “You must say, ‘I want some fish.’” Rabbit’s wife heard him and answered, “I want some fish.” Then Rabbit went to the creek. He found a dead fish and put it into the canoe. After a while he came back. He said, “A sick fish was lying there which I put into the canoe, but if you want it you can get it.” Then the two set out. They found only a dead fish swollen up and with its eyes turned white, and his wife scolded him about it.

Another time the youth made the old woman say by thinking, “I want some deer.” So the youth went into the woods to hunt. After a while he came back and said to her, “I finished killing a deer which lay sick and laid it in a hollow, but if you want it you can go and get it.” So the two started out after it. When they got to the place they found it full of fat deer. “If you can not carry them all off, let your kinsfolk take them away,” he said to her. So the old woman went to her kinsfolk and told them and they came and carried off the deer.

Rabbit also heard of that. He said to his wife, “You must say, ‘I want some deer.’” So Rabbit’s wife said, “I want some deer.” Then Rabbit went hunting in the woods. After a while he found a dead deer, put it into a hollow and came home. “I finished killing a deer lying sick,” he said, “but if you want it you can get it,” and they set out. When they came to where the dead deer lay, something had already taken out its eyes and the woman scolded him.

The birds hung dead on the clothing which Rabbit had taken away. [They would not sing for him.]

Next the youth said to the old woman, “Comb your hair and part it well,” and she started to comb it. Then he said, “I want to build a house,” and he stood near grinding his ax. The old woman went on combing her hair and when she got through he said to her, “Stand in the doorway.” She did so and forthwith he struck her on the head and split her in two. Immediately two young women stood there looking just alike. So he continued to live with his two wives.

Rabbit also heard of this and said to his wife, “Comb your hair.” She combed her hair and when she got through he said, “Stand in the middle of the doorway.” She stood there and he struck her and caused her to fall down dead.

After that happened the people said that the youth had occasioned the Rabbit to kill his wife and they arrested both. Then they tried them. All of the quadrupeds with hair and all of the flying things tried them. But they concluded, “It was not the telling of Rabbit by that youth but the foolishness of Rabbit himself which caused him to kill his wife by trying to imitate him,” and they let the youth go but convicted Rabbit.

They could not think of any way to kill Rabbit, however, so they discussed secretly a way to deceive him. They said, “Go and get Rattlesnake.” If he went for him, it would sting him and so kill him, they thought. “All of us are not here to judge because Rattlesnake can’t walk fast enough and hasn’t come. Go and get him,” they said, and he started off. But Rabbit knew they were deceiving him. He broke off a long stick, sharpened it, and came to the place using it as a walking stick. When he arrived he also told a lie. “They sent me from the assembly,” he said. “Many said, ‘Rattlesnake is long.’ Many said, ‘He is short.’ ‘Well then,’ they said to me, ‘Go and measure him,’ and so I came along.” Upon hearing this Rattlesnake straightened out and lay flat and Rabbit began measuring him. As he was doing so he said, “I shall not strike your life?” Rattlesnake answered that his life was in the middle of his head, so Rabbit kept on measuring him and while he was doing so stuck the stick into the middle of his head and killed him. He laid him over his shoulder impaled on the stick and carried him back.

“We told you to bring him here alive,” they said to him. “What is he fit for? Throw him away.” And he threw him away.

Again they came to an agreement on the matter. “Let him lead the water,” they thought, “and that will catch and drown him.” So they said to him, “You lead the water. Make it run straight in the channel.” So he caught the water and led it by means of a string. Presently the water overtook him and he started to run. When it overtook him again he ran in a crooked course. It overtook him again, and after running from it several times he got tired, let the water go, and ran off.

When they said to him, “We told you to make it straight,” he answered, “What I have done is right. Since it is crooked it makes a good place in which things can range about and when the second bottom is made it is a good place in which to hunt. It would be good to cultivate and to make a farm out of, I thought, and so I made it that way.” They could do nothing with him and so they let him go.

Footnotes
[1] I. e., paternal uncle.

Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians, by John R. Swanton; Smithsonian Institution, USGPO, Washington, D.C.; Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 88 [1929] and is now in the public domain.( Natchez )