Ohlone mythology facts for kids

The Ohlone people are Native Americans who lived in Northern California. Their mythology (which are traditional stories) tells us about their spiritual beliefs and how they saw the world. These stories often feature special beings who look like humans but have the names of animals. Key figures include the eagle, Coyote (who is seen as an ancestor and a clever trickster), and a hummingbird.

The Chochenyo people, who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, have a strong hero in their myths named Kaknu. He is Coyote's grandson and is described as looking like a peregrine falcon.

Creation Stories

Rumsen: The World's Beginning

One Ohlone creation story tells about a time when the world was destroyed by a great flood. Everything was covered in water, except for one tall peak. In the Rumsen version of the story, this peak was Pico Blanco (near Big Sur). On this peak stood Coyote, Hummingbird, and Eagle.

When the water reached their feet, the Eagle carried them to another high place called Sierra de Gabilin (near Fremont). They waited there for the water to go down and the land to dry. Coyote was sent to check, and he found that the world was dry again.

After the flood, Eagle led Coyote to a beautiful girl in the river. Eagle told Coyote, "She will be your wife so that people can live again." Eagle taught Coyote how to make her pregnant. This first wife became pregnant by eating one of Coyote's lice. But she was scared and ran away. Coyote chased her to the ocean, where she jumped in and turned into a sand flea or shrimp.

Coyote then married a second wife. With her, he had children who became the Ohlone people. This is how "people raised again." Coyote taught these first humans how to survive.

Rumsen: Eagle and Hawk

Another creation story also begins with the earth covered in water. Eagle told Hawk to dive into the floodwaters to find some earth. Hawk tried the first day but couldn't find any. The next morning, he tried again, this time holding a feather from the middle of Eagle's head. The feather grew longer and helped Hawk reach some earth under the water. Eventually, the water went away.

Chochenyo: Coyote and Kaknu

The Chochenyo myths describe the "First People" as special beings who looked like humans but had animal names. From the stories we know, Coyote was the most powerful being. People said: "The Coyote was 'wetes', the one who commanded. He was our God, the God of all the world."

Coyote was the grandfather, friend, and advisor to the Chochenyo's hero, Kaknu. Kaknu was another being who looked like a human, but he was described as a bird of prey, most like a peregrine falcon.

Making the World Safe

Chochenyo: Kaknu Fights Body of Stone

When Kaknu decided he didn't want to fight anymore, he turned into a dove and went into the earth. He dived into the ground by folding his wings. There, he went to face the "Body of Stone" called Wiwe.

Body of Stone was the lord of the underground. He was described as a man with a stone body who fed people to his servants. His land was covered with bones. Body of Stone had captured many of Kaknu's "people." These captured people helped Kaknu in a big battle. Kaknu shot Body of Stone in the neck and belly with all his arrows. Body of Stone died and broke into many pieces, which became all the rocks scattered across the world. After this, Kaknu made peace with the people who lived in this once dangerous underground world.

Death and Afterlife Stories

Chochenyo: The Land of the Dead

According to the Chochenyo, Coyote created death so that there would be enough food for everyone. This meant that "Kaknu had to take the road to the land of the dead...the people followed his example."

The Chochenyo believed the Land of the Dead had only one road. A man greeted the spirits who arrived there. Before a white foam, like the sea, there were two pieces of smoking, burning wood and two hollowed stones. One stone was filled with water, and the other with a sweet substance. Spirits could drink and eat there before they went into the foam. The burning wood was a warning, though the stories don't explain what the warning was about.