This story is the Tsimshian tribe's account of how the Sun and moon came into being. The Tsimshian's are a Pacific Northwest American Indian tribe.

Near the beginning of time the sky was completely dark. At this time there was a chief who had two sons. His older son was named "Walking About Early", and his younger son was named "One Who Walks All Over the Sky". The younger son was sad to see the sky always so dark so he decided to do something about it. He made an elaborate mask out of wood and pitch and lit it on fire. It is said that each day he travels across the sky and lays down to rest below the horizon each night. While he sleeps his snoring makes sparks fly upward away from the mask and make stars. The chief was very pleased with the creativity of his younger son and rewarded him.

But the older brother became jealous. To impress his father he smeared fat and charcoal on his face and makes his own path across the sky as the moon.

     

©Copyright 1998 Elizabeth Beckett, Holly Bernitt, and Vishwa Chandra.