I found it interesting that there are multiple "levels" of creation in this story. First, Sussistinnako the spider creates women from parcels, and then these women were the mothers of all people and created the sun and moon themselves.
One of my favorite details is the spider creating two parcels, setting them down, and singing, and then the parcels rattling on their own to the rhythm of his song and forming women.
I thought it was very insightful of the Sia people to include non-Native American people in their story. Many creation stories only speak of the society that came up with the story, so I was surprised that one of the two women from the parcels, who is also one of the creators of the sun and moon, was mentioned as the mother of all non-Native American people.
Another favorite detail is the construction of the sun and moon. The women used natural materials such as shell and stone and got the sun moving by dropping it off a mountain. The sun, a male being, wears a mask in this story, which is not really explained but is an interesting detail.
I also really like the idea of star people with their twinkling eyes!
Bibliography: Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson.
Link to the reading online.
Zia Dancer. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
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