Enigonhahetgea In David Cusick's The Iroquois Creation Story

In David Cusick’s version of “The Iroquois Creation Story,” it begins by there being two worlds-an upper and a lower. The upper world contained humans while the “lower world was in great darkness; -the possession of the great monster” (pg. 23). In the upper world a woman conceives twins and falls towards the lower world. The creatures of the lower world gathered together in the spot where she would land. The only creature that would be able to hold the women was the large turtle with the Earth on his shell. The women landed safely and the turtle grows larger and becomes an island with growing vegetation. The twins were born and was named Enigorio and Enigonhahetgea. Enigorio has a good mind while Enigonhahetgea has a bad mind. This leads to the question that was raised concerning the behavioral differences between the twins, what would have occurred if Enigonhahetgea would have never forced the battle deciding who was in control of the universe and they mutually was incharge?

He went throughout the island creating “high mountains and falls of water and great steeps, and also creates various reptiles which would be injurious to mankind” (pg. 24). Enigorio followed behind his brother and fixed all the “damage” that was done on the Island. This to me showed Enigorio’s true colors even though it was not his job to fix all the damage he respected the island enough that he took time to fix everything. Enigonhahetgea attempts in his brother’s footsteps by making a form of mankind but instead he creates apes. Since he was unable to create mankind he became very jealous of Enigorio. He tries again and with the help of Enigorio more mankind were created. Enigorio, despite his brother’s raging attempts to damage the Great Island, still lends a hand to Enigonhahetgea when needed. This strongly allows to me understand that the combination of the brothers together is what the universe would need to function