David Cusick
The Iroquois Creation Story,
from Sketches of Ancient History of Six Nations (1828)
Stonish Giants by David Cusick
Introduction
In his preface to Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations, David Cusick says: “I have endeavored to throw some light on the history of the original population of the country, which I believe never have been recorded.” This task he explains, was no easy effort; he hoped that other Native Americans, better educated than he, would take on the work. When they didn’t, he resolved to do it himself, despite the challenges of “procuring the materials, and translating it into English.”
Sketches serves several functions. As a “history” of the Six Nations, it preserves cultural memories and traditions, and includes the foundational, or creation story, of the Iroquois. Sketches also functions as a form of testimony, of protest, as an affirmation of a people, and as an affirmation of tribal unity and strength. These functions, and Cusick’s urgency, might best be understood in the context of Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal policies, which Sketches was almost certainly responding to.
Cusick was the first Native person to transcribe the Iroquois creation story, which is related in Part I of his history. Initially, the story and others like it, were part of an oral tradition. They would have been spoken and performed—active, alive, and communal rather than fixed on a page. That Cusick resolved to put it in a different, if more tangible, form might indicate to us a sense of urgency about the fate of his people in a rapidly-changing world.
Discussion Questions
- What lessons, morals, or beliefs does the Iroquois creation story convey? How or why might these particular lessons be significant for Cusick to relate in the context of Jackson’s Indian Removal policies?
- What lessons can be gleaned from Parts 2 and 3 of Sketches? How do these lessons extend some of the messages present in Part 1?
- In what ways does Sketches engage with Pratt’s explanation of the contact zone?
The Iroquois Creation Story
I HAVE been long waiting in hopes that some of my people, who have received an English education, would have undertaken the work as to give a sketch of the Ancient History of the Six Nations; but found no one seemed to concur in the matter, after some hesitation I determined to commence the work; but found the history involved with fables; and besides, examining myself, finding so small educated that it was impossible for me to compose the work without much difficulty.—After various reasons I abandoned the idea: I however, took up a resolution to continue the work, which I have taken much pains procuring the materials, and translating it into English language. I have endeavoured to throw some light on the history of the original population of the country, which I believe never have been recorded. I hope this little work will be acceptable to the public.
DAVID CUSICK.
Tuscarora Village, June 10, 1825.
Part I.
A TALE OF THE