Skip to main content

The Myth of the Earth Grasper

A) Characters in the story

De’haen hiondie’sonk - He Tosses About the Sky (He Shakes the Skies) a.k.a. Hoksten’a’ - The Ancient Man

Goksten’a’a - The Ancient Woman, his sister
(This shows the importance of maternal relations)

Her daughter: Awe(n)ha’i’ - Mature Blossoms, Mature Flowers, or Mature Earth

Her son: De’hadon hwendjiyen’dons - He, the Earthquake

De’haon hwendjiawa’khon - He-Earthholder, aka Hoda’he’ - He Has a Standing Tree (Keeper of the Standing Tree)

Ga’ha’syendiet’ha, the Fire Dragon, a.k.a Comet, whose body is white

Ga’hende’sonk - She is the Leader - Daughter born of Mature Blossom

Turtle Man

De’hae’hiyawa’k ‘hon - He Holds the Sky (He Grasps the Sky in Two Places), twin son of the daughter and Turtle Man, a.k.a. Master of Life. Hewitt also noted that “wa-hung” or “wagon” means “hold” and that Ung-kee-dra’-swa-wa-kung = He holds the sky by his mind, meaning his memory comes from the sky.