Emergence Into the World A Kiowa Story Sayn-Day is a culture hero who plays a role in many Kiowa stories. It was Sayn-Day, according to the Kiowas, who helped the Kiowa people into the world. One day Sayn-Day was walking along in the darkness. He was lonely and curious as he wandered in a land without people and animals. He accidentally bumped into a cottonwood tree. There were strange voices coming from within. Sayn-Day was nosy, so he reached down into an opening in the trunk made by a Sawpole, or owl. Sayn-Day grasped the first Kiowa, and instructed the rest to make a chain, so he could pull them out easily. They came swarming out as ants. But when a pregnant female became stuck in the opening, no more could get through. As a result, the Kiowas have always been a small tribe. Those who came from the hollow cottonwood tree became the principal people known as Kiowas. The Kiowas first called themselves Kwu’-da, or Pulling-out people, and later Tep-da, or Coming-out people. Vanessa Paukeigope Jennings, Kiowa To the Kiowa life is sacred. The panels of this unique cradleboard illustrate different occurrences within the Kiowa origin story. The top panel explains how the Sun married a beautiful young girl who later wanted to return to earth and her people. She escapes by descending down a rope with her infant strapped to a cradleboard. She dies before reaching the ground. Another panel represents Sun Boy being raised by Grandmother Spider. Sun Boy disobeys her when told never to throw his gaming hoop into the air. When he does, it falls and splits him in two parts, creating half boys with special powers. One of the half boys is of the earth, and the other is of the sky. These panels reflect only a small part of the Kiowa story of origin.