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The stories created by the Northen Forest tribes developed along with a move to agricultural life from the life dependent upon Hunting. This story of creation represents the growing sophistication of these Native Americans.
The trickster Wisagatcak built a dam of stakes across a creek to trap the giant beaver. He waited all day and that evening he saw the beaver approaching. Just as he was about to spear the beaver, Muskrat bit him from behind and he missed with his spear. Wisagatcak then decided to break down the dam, so the next morning he removed the stakes and let the water flow out.The giant beaver has worked magic against Wisagatcak because he had broken the dam and the water continued to flow and flow, even though the level in the creek did not fall. The water continued to flow for two weeks, until all the land was covered. Wisagatcak however pulled up some trees and made a raft, then collected many different kinds of animals who were swimming about.
At the end of the two weeks, Muskrat left the raft and dived down but could not find any earth. He stayed below so long that he died. The the raven left the raft. He flew for a whole day and say no land, only water. Then Wisagatcak made his own magic with the help of the wolf. Wolf ran round and round the raft with a clump of moss in his mouth. As he ran, the moss grew and earth formed on it. Then wolf put it down, and they danced around it singing powerful spells. The earth grew, spreading over the raft and went on to form the whole of the world.
This myth is enforced by the story tellers by pointing out how the water, which is below the earth pours out at times from the natural springs.
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