Editing Creation myth (section)

====Native American narrative====
Characteristic of many Native American myths, earth-diver creation stories begin as beings and potential forms linger asleep or suspended in the primordial realm. The earth-diver is among the first of them to awaken and lay the necessary groundwork by building suitable lands where the coming creation will be able to live. In many cases, these stories will describe a series of failed attempts to make land before the solution is found.<ref>{{harvnb|Leonard|McClure|2004|page=38}}</ref><ref>[[Stith Thompson|Thompson, Stith]]. ''Tales of the North American Indians''. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard university press, 1929. p. 279.</ref>

Among the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the earth-diver cosmogony is attested in [[Iroquois mythology#Creation|Iroquois mythology]]: a female sky deity falls from the heavens, and certain animals, the [[beaver]], the [[otter]], the [[duck]], and the [[muskrat]] dive in the waters to fetch mud to construct an island.<ref>[[Harriet Maxwell Converse|Converse, Harriet Maxwell (Ya-ie-wa-no)]]; Parker, Arthur Caswell (Ga-wa-so-wa-neh) (December 15, 1908). "[https://archive.org/details/cu31924055492973/page/n49/mode/1up Myths and Legends of the New York State Iroquois]". Education Department Bulletin. University of the State of New York: 33.</ref><ref>Brinton, Daniel G. ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/19347/19347-h/19347-h.htm The Myths of the New World: A Treatise on the Symbolism and Mythology of the Red Race of America]''. New York: Leypoldt & Holt. 1868. pp. 197-198.</ref>

In a similar story from the [[Seneca people|Seneca]], people lived in a sky realm. One day, the chief's daughter was afflicted with a mysterious illness, and the only cure recommended for her (revealed in a dream) was to lie beside a tree and to have it be dug up. The people do so, but a man complains that the tree was their livelihood, and kicks the girl through the hole. She ends up falling from the sky to a world of only water, but is rescued by [[waterfowl]]. A turtle offers to bear her on its shell, but asked where would be a definitive dwelling place for her. They decide to create land, and the [[toad]] dives into the depths of the primal sea to get pieces of soil. The toad puts it on the turtle's back, which grows larger with every deposit of soil.<ref>Thompson, Stith. ''Tales of the North American Indians''. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard university press, 1929. pp. 14-15, 278.</ref>

In another version from the [[Wyandot people|Wyandot]], the Wyandot lived in heaven. The daughter of the Big Chief (or Mighty Ruler) was sick, so the [[medicine man]] recommends that they dig up the wild apple tree that stands next to the Lodge of the Mighty Ruler, because the remedy is to be found on its roots. However, as the tree has been dug out, the ground begins to sink away, and the treetops catch and carry down the sick daughter with it. As the girl falls from the skies, two swans rescue her on their backs. The birds decide to summon all the Swimmers and the Water Tribes. Many volunteer to dive into the Great Water to fetch bits of earth from the bottom of the sea, but only the toad (female, in the story) is the one successful.<ref>Barbeau, Marius. ''Huron and Wyandot mythology, with an appendix containing earlier published records''. Ottawa, Government Printing Bureau. 1915. pp. 303-304.</ref>