ExegesisMany Native Americans tell stories about the creation of the Earth that explain how they came to be before Europeans entered North America. Creation myths vary across cultures; However, they all have one thing in common; heaven and earth. One of the most popular creation myths was the Iroquois creation myth. The Iroquois or Haudenosaunee which means "People of the Longhouse" (Iroquois Indian Museum, nd) comprise six Indian nations which include the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora tribes. Initially, it was believed that before the creation of the earth, there existed two realms, heaven and the underworld, made up of water and aquatic creatures. Seen from the sky, a young woman named Sky Woman was married to the Sky Chief. He dreamed that his wife would “get pregnant by inhaling her husband’s breath, but this was unknown to him” (Quenzer, nd). The dream disturbed the head of heaven and began to distrust his wife. A second dream occurred in which the Chief of Heaven had to uproot the Heavenly Tree. He believed this dream to be a powerful message and set about uprooting the tree. Little did the Sky Woman know that the Chief was going to punish her for her alleged dishonesty. He forced her into the big hole and as she looked through the big hole, he pushed her through the hole. As she fell from the sky, she caught pieces of plants growing on the ground of the Celestial World as well as a handful of seeds from the branches of the Celestial Tree. As the Sky Woman descended from the sky, various animals tried to save her. , but without success. However, with the help of the aquatic animals, a giant sea turtle emerged from the bottom of the sea and the animals placed the Sky Woman on top of the turtles middle of paper...... Six Nations. Retrieved from: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&context=libraryscienceDalesings. (2008). Turtle and Moon. Retrieved from: http://dalesings.blogspot.com/2008/08/turtle-and-moon.html Iroquois Indian Museum. (nd). Who are the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)? Retrieved from: http://www.iroquoismuseum.org/ve1.htmJii, J. (2011). Iroquois Indian Museum. Travel and newspapers. Retrieved from: http://jayjiiadventures.blogspot.com/2011/02/iroquois-indian-museum.html Olan, K. (nd). History of creation. Iroquois Indian Museum. Retrieved from: http://www.iroquoismuseum.org/CREATION%20.htm Quenzer, M. (nd). History of creation. Retrieved from: http://www.marcinequenzer.com/creation.htm Yupanqui, T. (1998). Iroquois myths and legends: Woman who fell from the sky. Webwinds. Retrieved from: http://www.webwinds.com/yupanqui/iroquoisdreams3.htm.