The Chumash myth tells of a great deluge which
engulfed the earth, taking with it all living things save for the
Spotted Woodpecker, the nephew of Kaqunupenawa, the Sun God.
Spotted Woodpecker survived the flood by perching itself atop the
tallest tree in the world, but as he saw the water rise all the way to
his feet, he cried out for his uncle's help. "Save me, I'm drowning! -
he cried. The Sun God's daughters heard him and told Kaqunupenawa that
his nephew was dying of cold and hunger. The Sun God lowered his
torch, the one he used to light the world and create the stars, and he
warmed the Spotted Woodpecker with its heat. He then tossed two acorns
in the water at his feet, so that he would be able to pick them up and
eat them. The Sun God fed more acorns to the Spotted Woodpecker, which
now explains why they are its favorite food.
After the flood, the Sun God, Morning Star, the Moon, and Slo'w the
Great Eagle were discussing the creation of new people to populate the
earth with the Sky Coyote, trying to decide on their appearance. The
Great Eagle and the Sky Coyote argued whether the humans should have
hands like the the Sky Coyote's, who believed that the new people
should be made in his image. He won the argument, and the next day,
all gathered around a white rock so that Sky Coyote could press his
hand into it to make his hand print, but the Lizard, who had been a
silent observer at the proceedings leapt forward and pressed his own
hand onto the rock. Lizard escaped the furious Sky Coyote, and the Sun
and the Eagle approved of the hand print and this is why human hands
are somewhat shaped like the Lizard's.
The first people were created from the seeds planted on Limuw (Santa
Cruz Island) by Hutash, the Earth Goddess. Hutash was married to the
Sky Snake (The Milky Way), who made lightning with his tongue and gave
the people their first fire. The people kept the fire burning to stay
warm and cook their food. Since the people were getting more
comfortable, their population grew until the Island became too
crowded.
They also made so much noise that Hutash could not get any sleep, so
she decided it was time to allow some of the people to cross over to
the mainland. Hutash made Wishtoyo, a Rainbow Bridge which extended
from the tallest peak of the Island to the tallest inland mountain
near Carpinteria. She told the people to cross carefully, and to never
look down, but some did, and fell off the Rainbow Bridge and into the
ocean, where they were turned into dolphins by Hutash to prevent them
from drowning. This is why the Chumash Indians consider the dolphins
to be their brothers. The Chumash honor Hutash every September with a
great Harvest Festival named after her.
