Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Chumash Lizard Song

Files in this Data Supplement:

• Chumash Lizard Song - Chumash Lizard Song: It is a traditional Chumash song that celebrates lizards. Human hands, according to Chumash legend, were designed by the Sky Lizard. The Chief of the sky people is Sky Eagle, Slo' (pronounced Sloke). Slo' and Snilemun (Sky Coyote, pronounced Shneelaymune) were busy designing the human body, but could not agree on the form of human hands. Finally, it was agreed that human hands would be like coyote paws. Slo' designed a special rock that was so smooth that anything that touched it would form a perfect imprint. Snilemun was instructed to place his paw on the rock and form the impression for human hands. Sky Lizard had not been consulted on the process of making human hands and was not happy about that. Before Snilemun could place his paw on the rock, Sky Lizard placed his hand on the rock. That is why human hands look like lizard hands and not like coyote paws.
• Chumash Willow Song - The willow song is also the women's song, since women, like willow can bend and not break.
• Chumash Owl Song
• Chumash Bear Song