First of all: Who are the Pemon? The Pemon are a group of Indigenous Americans who live in Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana (one of the least discussed countries in South America). Like Guyana, the Pemon aren’t often discussed unless by someone with a personal interest in their culture. But this week’s Mythology Monday is all about their beliefs, particularly their creation myth. Meet Wei.

The woman within the stream was busy. She was frantically constructing a basic “mold” in the shape of a comely woman. Her hands moved rapidly as she focused with inhuman precision on the task before her. Her impossible focus was due to the pressure she faced. If she failed at the task she was attempting to do it would mean the end of her freedom, and that she was something she simply couldn’t and wouldn’t lose. She was nervous, for she had already failed twice. She feared she wouldn’t get a third chance. “First of mud. Afterwards of wax. What comes next? Perhaps… stone.” Whispered the woman who lived beneath the stream. (Please note, there’s no reason to believe Tuenkaron the figure who is known as “The woman” in this story lives within the water. This is just one possible way to write her into a story, or at least one example of what someone who wants to use her as a character might choose to do)

Wei is the deity of the sun. He’s a figure who resembles an Indigenous person, and he spent his time tending a garden of ocumo, his preferred food. The creation myth of the Pemon involves his as he attempts to find a wife. By accident, at first.

Wei decides it’s time to take a bath. And comes across a stream that has been recently disturbed, and he can see the ripples as they flow through the water. The strange deity makes a decision to come back later, but bathes there before leaving. Unbeknownst to him at the time, this was where Tuenkaron was resting, and she dove into the water in an effort to remain hidden. She wouldn’t be as successful the next day she tried this.

Wei decides to return to the stream, but does so in a more sneaky manner and manages to capture the woman, by her hair (which stretched down to her feet). She begs in order to stay free, and convinces him that she’ll send him a woman to be his wife. She does. Or she tries anyway. Let’s say it takes a few tries before she gets it right.

Lady number 1: White lady made of clay/white mud. Begins to collapse/muddy the water when exposed to water. Went to go get water due to orders from Wei.

Lady number 2: Black lady made of wax. Melts/collapses when exposed to fire. Went to set fire to piles of ocumo that Wei had gathered.

Lady number 3: Red lady made of sandstone (possibly). Doesn’t muddy water when sent to fetch it, and doesn’t melt when setting stuff on fire, or cooking it. Just right for Wei.

This is that woman who Wei eventually falls in love with and the children that Aromadapuen (one of the sources I found says this is the name of the lady made of sandstone) gives birth to are known as the Makunaima. The names of the children are: Weruwarek/Meriwarek (the oldest), Chiwadapuen (a daughter), Arawadapuen (a daughter), and Arukadari (the youngest).

If you want to know some more here’s a bit of information: I found a source which states that Aromadapuen dies due to eating poisonous lice from an old toad. In revenge her children burn the toad. Arukadari who is known to some as Chike (it’s one of nicknames of the deity allegedly because Chike always opposed the plans of the oldest) ascends to the heavens and becomes the Tauna star.

The Sun and Moon? Wei, and Kapui. So why do these two people hang in separate circles? Because back when Wei was friends with Kapui, Wei apparently abused one of Kapui’s daughters. In response the two became foes and one was in charge of the day and the other dominated the darkness.

If you want to read more about the myths of the Pemon here are a few sources!

First of all Scribd has a source in Spanish and in Pemon.

There’s also this source featuring handmade drawings and text in Spanish and in Pemon.

There’s also the sources I’ve posted links too. If you can find others definitely comment and share them! If you can, you’re awesome because I searched for videos and for more links, and everything talked about Chinese mythology, and about Pokemon. Finding some of this was hard.

I really enjoy highlight indigenous cultures throughout Latin America and I am glad that people enjoy reading my work. Have a great night!