The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions

gambling and act responsibly toward their families, the men got
mad and went into the kivas.
Now, since the kivas were the men’s space, the women didn’t
go there except for ritual reasons. The men continued to gamble,
neglecting their ritual duties and losing all their possessions of
value. Because they didn’t do the dances or make the offerings
as they were supposed to, the drought continued and serious
famine ensued. Finally one old man who was also a priest, or
cheani, became very concerned. He sought the advice of a
shaman nearby, but it was too late. Iyatiku had left Kush Katret
in anger at her foolish people. She went back to Shipap where
she lives now and keeps an eye on the people. The people were
forced to abandon the village, which was inundated by floods
brought on by the angry lake spirits. So the beautiful village was
destroyed and the people were forced to build a new one
elsewhere and to live without the Mother of Corn. But she left
with them her power, Irriaku, and told them that it was her heart
she left in their keeping. She charged them always to share the
fruits of her body with one another, for they were all related, and
she told them that they must ever remain at peace in their hearts
and their relationships.
The rains come only to peaceful people, or so the Keres say.
As a result of this belief, the Keres abhor violence or hostility.
They are very careful to contain their emotions and to put a
smooth face on things, for rain is essential to the very life of
their villages. Without it the crops can’t grow, the livestock will
starve, there will be no water for drinking or bathing—in short,
all life, physical and ceremonial, will come to a halt. For
ceremonies depend on corn and corn pollen and birds and water;
without these they are not likely to be efficacious, if they can be
held at all.
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