Cosmos: Religion, Mythology and Philosophy

Coyote Creating Mankind - Photo Source: www.lib.uidaho.edu

The Nez Perce had a strong tradition of spirituality. Before the intervention of the white man, the Nez Perce used mythology to explain life, nature and the supernatural. Nature, to them, was very important. The Nez Perce believed that the Earth was part of their body and therefore, they belonged to the land from which they came. They believed that the Earth was their mother and that the Great Spirit, or Hanyawat, was the maker of all things. Hanyawat was the Chief Spirit, an almighty proprietor and creator of the universe.

Everything on Earth, and otherwise, was created and placed there by the Great Spirit. Therefore, it was the responsibility of the Nez Perce to take care of the Earth and protect it. They believed that by leading an Earth-conscious life they would live on after death in an afterworld. Another way of reaching this afterworld is by conducting rituals and ceremonies, which recognized, celebrated and worshiped the spirits around them. Properly observed rituals and the protection of Earth will result in their soul reaching the afterworld, where they will live on for eternity.

The Nez Perce believed in guardian spirits called weyekins, which protect individuals from harm. A weyekin is found by an individual in their youth and stays with them, protecting them and giving them different strengths and attributes, until the individual’s death. Nez Perce children, both boys and girls, around the ages of 12 or 15, are sent into the mountains without food or weapons. They bring with them only a little bit of water, which will sustain them until their weyekin visits them. Their weyekin will appear in the form of an animal, usually a mammal or a bird, either right before them or in their dreams. After a weyekin is revealed to the child, they will bestow upon them a kind of strength or attribute. For example, if one’s weyekin was a deer they might become quicker and more agile.

Animals are very prevalent in Nez Perce spirituality and the same goes for their mythology. They used mythology to explain certain unexplainable things like why the seasons change or how was fire invented? Another big question the Nez Perce used mythology to answer was how the world was created. Their myth explains:

Long ago before the existence of man, a huge monster came from the north and began eating everything in sight. It ate all the soil, rocks, trees, and worst of all, a lot of the animals. One day, Coyote realized that he couldn’t find any of his friends anywhere and this made him very angry. He decided he had to stop they monster and get his friends back. Coyote went across Snake River and up to the highest point of the Wallowa Mountains. There he tied himself with rope and began taunting and challenging the monster to come eat him. The monster came at Coyote and tried to suck him into his mouth, but was unable to. Coyote’s rope was too strong. Instead of being angry, the monster was impressed and asked Coyote to come stay with him for a while. One day, while staying with the monster, Coyote said that he wanted to see his friends in the monster’s belly. The monster agreed and swallowed Coyote whole. In the monster’s belly, Coyote saw that all of his friends were still alive and safe. He told them to get ready to escape and they did. Coyote them set a fire in the monster’s belly and also cut his heart. The monster died and Coyote and his friends escaped out of the monster’s belly. Coyote then said, in honor of this event, he was going to make a new animal and this animal was going to be human beings. He cut up parts of the monster and threw them into the four winds and where each piece landed (North, South, East or West) a tribe would be born. This was how all the tribes came to be. When he was finished, Coyote’s friend Fox noticed that no tribe was created where they stood. Nothing was left of the monster, but Coyote had an idea. He washed the blood from his hands and sprinkled that water on the ground below them. Coyote said, “Here on this ground I make the Nez Perce. They will be few, but strong and pure.”

Coyote is a reoccurring character in their mythology as well as other animals such as bear, fox, snake and chipmunk.

In the 19^th century, with the rising influence of the white man, the Nez Perce were introduced to Christianity. Most believe that Canadian trappers first introduced the Nez Perce to Christianity. Regardless who it was that first introduced it, Christianity became a belief many Nez Perce shared. Henry Spalding was one of the first ministers to set up a church near the Nez Perce. He saw himself as a missionary and that it was his calling to change the Nez Perce’s savage ways. He was a Presbyterian and was very inconsiderate of Nez Perce culture and beliefs. Nez Perce who converted to Christianity were known by their new Christian names. They also cut their hair short and began dressing in less traditionally regal outfits. The rift between Christian and traditional Nez Perce was eventually very evident. These two groups too opposing sides during the land dispute. The Christian Nez Perce was sympathetic and intrigued by the white man and their wealth. They gave no opposition to them when the white man came to take their land and push them into a reservation. The traditional Nez Perce, later to be called non-treaty Indians, fought back.

Presbyterian Missionary & Nez Perce Students - Photo Source: www.cantonasylumforinsaneindians.com