Ancient Native American Flood Stories and the Biblical Connection
by Owen Borville
Ancient Native American flood stories could have a Biblical connection. Of the many tribes that have inhabited the Americas and the Western Hemisphere, there have been many ancient flood stories recorded. These stories are further evidence that the story of the Great Flood of the Book of Genesis was retold by future generations as people spread throughout the world and repopulated the earth. Even though there are differences in the stories, the general theme in most of the stories is that God or gods sent a flood to destroy the earth because of the disobedience of the people. In most of the stories, at least one person and often some animals are spared in some type of boat or sea craft. Why are there differences in the stories if the Biblical account is true? After the Biblical Flood, Noah and his family and the animals were the only survivors of the Flood. The decedents of Noah's family spoke the same language until the later Tower of Babel incident, where God confused the common language into multiple languages. Unable to communicate, the people spread out throughout the world according to their languages. The retelling of the flood story in multiple languages would cause some changes in the names, words, and elements in the story. However, the general plot of the story remains remarkably similar throughout the cultures around the world that have a flood story or "myth." If the stories were identical, one would question the authenticity of the stories. However, the differences that exist in the stories are realistic considering the circumstances of being retold in different languages over several thousand years and many generations. The fact that so many cultures around the world have an ancient flood story gives strong evidence of an actual event several thousand years ago.
Some examples of these stories include:
The Chiricahua Apache believe that "the Great Spirit" sent a flood to destroy the whole earth because the people did not worship him.
An ancient Choctaw Native American legend describing a Great Flood, which was told to the European missionaries. The Choctaws described a world where mankind became corrupt and evil and the “Great Spirit” decided to destroy all mankind by a flood. A prophet who warned the people of their evil ways was able to escape the flood on a raft made of logs for several weeks until a bird and a strong wind directed him to land. After the flood, the bird that guided him was changed into a woman and after becoming the wife of the prophet, the couple repopulated the world. (Source: Morrison, W.B.)
The Navajo Native Americans believe that a series of floods caused people to emerge on earth from the underworld. The final flood was sent by "Water Monster", as revenge when "Coyote" stole his child. When the child was returned, the flood ended.
South American ancient Andean cultures had flood stories, according to Catholic priests who traveled there during the Spanish exploration of these areas. The priests even explain how these ancient Native Americans knew about the Ark and the Flood and spoke about these things in their oral traditions. The natives even believe that these events were punishment from God. (Source: And the Waters Prevailed: Some Andean Indian Versions of the Flood, Magleby, Kirk, Jan. 1983).
The Aztecs believed that the first age of creation ended in a flood, similar to the Genesis story. The Aztecs did have a flood myth that was clearly indigenous and preceded the arrival of Europeans, unlike the Hawaiians. An Aztec flood myth is described as follows:
During the era of the fourth sun, the Sun of Water, the people grew very wicked and ignored the worship of the gods. The gods became angry and Tlaloc, the god of rains, announced that he was going to destroy the world with a flood. However, Tlaloc was fond of a devout couple, Tata and Nena, and he warned them of the flood. He instructed them to hollow out a great log and take two ears of corn-one for each of them-and eat nothing more. So Tata and Nena entered the tree trunk with the two ears of corn, and it began to rain. When the rains subsided and Tata and Nena's log landed on dry land, they were so happy that they caught a fish and ate it, contrary to the orders of Tlaloc. It was only after their stomachs were full that they remembered Tlaloc's command. Tlaloc then appeared to them and said, "This is how I am repaid for saving your lives?" They were then changed into dogs. It was at this point, where even the most righteous people were disobedient, that the gods destroyed the world, ushering in the present era of the Fifth Sun.
This flood myth has similarities to the Genesis account in that the gods were mad at man for their disobedience and sent a flood to destroy the world. In addition, the gods found a righteous couple, similar to Noah and his wife, and warned them of the coming flood. The gods also instructed the couple to build a boat structure out of wood, or a "tree trunk" and to take food with them. There are differences to the Biblical account, but the main theme is very similar considering the distance from the Middle East to the Americas. As the story was retold in different languages over the generations for several thousand years, the story likely changed slightly.
The Mayans believed that the gods sent a flood to destroy the wooden people in order to establish humans.
by Owen Borville
Ancient Native American flood stories could have a Biblical connection. Of the many tribes that have inhabited the Americas and the Western Hemisphere, there have been many ancient flood stories recorded. These stories are further evidence that the story of the Great Flood of the Book of Genesis was retold by future generations as people spread throughout the world and repopulated the earth. Even though there are differences in the stories, the general theme in most of the stories is that God or gods sent a flood to destroy the earth because of the disobedience of the people. In most of the stories, at least one person and often some animals are spared in some type of boat or sea craft. Why are there differences in the stories if the Biblical account is true? After the Biblical Flood, Noah and his family and the animals were the only survivors of the Flood. The decedents of Noah's family spoke the same language until the later Tower of Babel incident, where God confused the common language into multiple languages. Unable to communicate, the people spread out throughout the world according to their languages. The retelling of the flood story in multiple languages would cause some changes in the names, words, and elements in the story. However, the general plot of the story remains remarkably similar throughout the cultures around the world that have a flood story or "myth." If the stories were identical, one would question the authenticity of the stories. However, the differences that exist in the stories are realistic considering the circumstances of being retold in different languages over several thousand years and many generations. The fact that so many cultures around the world have an ancient flood story gives strong evidence of an actual event several thousand years ago.
Some examples of these stories include:
The Chiricahua Apache believe that "the Great Spirit" sent a flood to destroy the whole earth because the people did not worship him.
An ancient Choctaw Native American legend describing a Great Flood, which was told to the European missionaries. The Choctaws described a world where mankind became corrupt and evil and the “Great Spirit” decided to destroy all mankind by a flood. A prophet who warned the people of their evil ways was able to escape the flood on a raft made of logs for several weeks until a bird and a strong wind directed him to land. After the flood, the bird that guided him was changed into a woman and after becoming the wife of the prophet, the couple repopulated the world. (Source: Morrison, W.B.)
The Navajo Native Americans believe that a series of floods caused people to emerge on earth from the underworld. The final flood was sent by "Water Monster", as revenge when "Coyote" stole his child. When the child was returned, the flood ended.
South American ancient Andean cultures had flood stories, according to Catholic priests who traveled there during the Spanish exploration of these areas. The priests even explain how these ancient Native Americans knew about the Ark and the Flood and spoke about these things in their oral traditions. The natives even believe that these events were punishment from God. (Source: And the Waters Prevailed: Some Andean Indian Versions of the Flood, Magleby, Kirk, Jan. 1983).
The Aztecs believed that the first age of creation ended in a flood, similar to the Genesis story. The Aztecs did have a flood myth that was clearly indigenous and preceded the arrival of Europeans, unlike the Hawaiians. An Aztec flood myth is described as follows:
During the era of the fourth sun, the Sun of Water, the people grew very wicked and ignored the worship of the gods. The gods became angry and Tlaloc, the god of rains, announced that he was going to destroy the world with a flood. However, Tlaloc was fond of a devout couple, Tata and Nena, and he warned them of the flood. He instructed them to hollow out a great log and take two ears of corn-one for each of them-and eat nothing more. So Tata and Nena entered the tree trunk with the two ears of corn, and it began to rain. When the rains subsided and Tata and Nena's log landed on dry land, they were so happy that they caught a fish and ate it, contrary to the orders of Tlaloc. It was only after their stomachs were full that they remembered Tlaloc's command. Tlaloc then appeared to them and said, "This is how I am repaid for saving your lives?" They were then changed into dogs. It was at this point, where even the most righteous people were disobedient, that the gods destroyed the world, ushering in the present era of the Fifth Sun.
This flood myth has similarities to the Genesis account in that the gods were mad at man for their disobedience and sent a flood to destroy the world. In addition, the gods found a righteous couple, similar to Noah and his wife, and warned them of the coming flood. The gods also instructed the couple to build a boat structure out of wood, or a "tree trunk" and to take food with them. There are differences to the Biblical account, but the main theme is very similar considering the distance from the Middle East to the Americas. As the story was retold in different languages over the generations for several thousand years, the story likely changed slightly.
The Mayans believed that the gods sent a flood to destroy the wooden people in order to establish humans.
