Work in progress

Long ago, Mosir-kar-kamuy (the country-making-god) came down from heaven and made Aynu-mo-sir (human-quiet-land). And the land was bare, with nary a blade of grass nor a single tree growing.

Now Mosirkarkamuy realised that if things continued like this there would be nothing for the Kamuy (gods) or the Aynu (men) to eat and they would not be able to live, so he decided to sow the seeds of plants and trees and grain. The gods discussed amongst themselves who they should get to sow the seeds, and decided to get the Owl to do it.

So Mosirkarkamuy gave the owl seeds of Heartleaf Lily, Rape, Thistle, Bear's Angelica, Barnyard Millet, Foxtail Millet and many other plants and trees. And the Owl took the seeds he had been given and worked night and day to sow them from top to bottom of the new land.

And so the plants and grains which the Kamuy and Aynu could eat grew in abundance in the land, and as the food grew more abundant so the Aynu grew more abundant.

And the Aynu, knowing these things, named the Owl Kamuy-chikap (god-bird) or Kotan-kor-kamuy (village-guarding-god) out of respect.

Moreover, since the Owl can see even at night, when something worrysome might be about to happen in the kotan (village) he warns the people in the village with a loud cry, so trouble can be avoided.

Based on version told by Kimura Konmatan of Nioi village in Biratori, Hokkaido, Japan, 4 October 1962, collected in Kayano, Shigeru, "Kamuiyukar Tura Uwepekere". Shogakukan, Tokyo. 1988. An upashkuma is a story told to Ainu children to teach the history of their family, village and the gods they worship. It is in theory factual, unlike the better-known yukar (heroic story) form which is allegorical. See also the conversation which prompted this and the (longer, alternate) entry A723791.