In the earliest days, humans did not know how to farm. They survived by hunting and foraging, often going hungry despite their hard work. Coyote, a clever and curious trickster, observed a group of mystical beings, sometimes described as witches, gods, or women living in remote mountain regions, who possessed a remarkable golden seed. This seed, known as corn, was nutritious, delicious, and could sustain life.
Coyote decided that humans needed this magical seed to survive. However, the guardians of the corn were selfish and extremely protective. Using his cunning, Coyote disguised himself as a hungry, lost wolf to sneak into their camp. While the guardians were distracted, performing rituals or sleeping, he snatched the best seeds, cleverly hiding them in his fur. When discovered, he ran with incredible speed across the valleys, sometimes passing the seeds to other animals like hawks or squirrels in a relay to ensure the seeds reached the humans safely before he was caught.
Once the seeds were delivered, Coyote did not just leave humans to their luck. He taught them that corn was not meant to be eaten all at once. He showed them how to prepare the soil using sticks to poke holes into the dry ground of the Southwest. He instructed them on planting the seeds, covering them carefully with soil, and performing songs and dances to call for rain, since corn required water to grow. He warned them that laziness would cause the plants to wither, teaching humans the value of patience, consistent effort, and careful stewardship.
Coyote’s mischievous and humorous nature appeared throughout the lessons. Sometimes he would give odd advice or even disrupt the planting process, such as telling humans to speak to the corn as if it could understand. Yet despite the humor and trickery, the first corn plants sprouted, bringing lasting sustenance to human communities. The different colors of corn, white, yellow, green, and red, were said to come from Coyote gathering seeds from many places across the world.
The story of Coyote and the stolen corn explains the origins of agriculture while honoring Coyote’s intelligence, cleverness, and his role as a bridge between the divine and humanity. It celebrates creativity, resourcefulness, and the importance of teaching and learning, reminding humans that survival requires both wisdom and a little cleverness.