In the beginning, Earth was covered with water. In Sky Land, there were people living as
they do now on Earth. In the middle of that land was the great Sky Tree. All of the food which
the people in that Sky Land ate came from the great tree.
*The old chief of that land lived with his wife, whose name was Aataentsic, meaning
Ancient Woman in their longhouse near the great tree. It came to be that the old chief became
sick and nothing could cure him. He grew weaker until it seemed he would die: Then a dream
came to him and he called Aataentsic to him.
"I have dreamed," he said, "and in my dream I saw how I can be healed. I must be given
the fruit which grows at the very top of Sky Tree: You must cut it down and bring that fruit to
me.
Aataentsic took her husband's stone ax and went to the great tree. As soon as she
struck it, it split in half and toppled over. As it fell, a hole opened in Sky Land and the tree fell
through the hole. Aataentsic returned to the place where the old chief waited.
"My husband," she said, "when I cut the tree it split in half and then fell through a great
hole. Without the tree, there can be no life. I must follow it.
Then, leaving her husband, she went back to the hole in Sky Land and threw herself
after the great tree.
As Aataentsic fell, Turtle looked up and saw her. Immediately. Turtle called together all
the water animals and told them what she had seen
my
"What should be done?" Turtle said.
Beaver answered her. "You are the one who saw this happen. Tell us what to do."
All of you must dive down." Turtle said. "Bring up soil from the bottom, and place it on
back."
*Immediately, all of the water animals began to dive down and bring up soil. Beaver
Mink Muskrat) and Otter each brought up pawfuls of wet soil and placed the soil on the Turtle's
back until they had made an island of great size. When they were through, Aataentsic settled
down gently on the new Earth and the pieces of the great tree fell beside her and took root.
thur's
regg
to the
beginn

Part 1: Analytical Theme Paragraph