How did Great Basin beliefs describe the roles of animal ancestors such as Coyote, Wolf, and Bear?

In the belief systems of the Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin, animal ancestors such as Coyote, Wolf, Bear, Rabbit, and Mountain Lion were viewed as anthropomorphic progenitors who lived during a mythical age preceding the human era.1

These beings were considered the architects of the world, responsible for establishing the present-day environment, including the topography, ecology, food resources, and the changing seasons. Their roles in Great Basin mythology included:1

• Defining Social Order: They set the nature of human social relations, dictating how kin should behave toward one another and establishing customs for birth, marriage, puberty, and death.1
• Establishing Precepts: Their actions within the mythic realm served to define moral and ethical standards for human life.1
• Determining Characteristics: They were responsible for the distribution of peoples and for setting the physical and behavioral traits of modern animals.1

While these ancestors acted with human-like speech and behavior during the mythic age, their legacy provided the foundational structure for the physical and social world experienced by later generations.1