Originally posted to Shrubbery, 28 Sept 2003
Here's a different version of Ursa Major from the Anishinabe (Chippewa, Ojibway) people:
A long time ago when there was nothing but winter Fisher was known as a mighty hunter and a wise one. However, since everything was so cold even he had trouble finding enough food to feed his family.
One day his son decided to go out hunting himself since he was so hungry. Young Fisher was lucky enough to find a squirrel and was just about to eat him when the squirrel cried, "Little Brother, please don't eat me. If you let me go I'll tell you how we could all have warmth and never go hungry." Young Fisher was very hungry but he decided to listen to what the squirrel had to say. "Tell me, Grandfather, how can we be warm and never go hungry?"
"Little Brother," the squirrel said, "when you go home you must sit in the corner and cry. When your mother asks you what's wrong, you mustn't answer her but just keep crying. If she brings you food you mustn't eat it. When your father returns and asks you what's wrong, tell him you are cold and hungry. He will know what to do."
When Young Fisher returned home he did just what Grandfather Squirrel had said. He sat down in a corner and began to weep. His mother soon noticed and said, "young one, why do you cry?" but Young Fisher didn't answer. "I will fix you some food," she said, but when she brought the food Young Fisher wouldn't touch it and stayed in the corner crying. When his father came home, the mother said, "something is wrong with the child. He won't eat and does nothing but cry."
Fisher asked his son, "why you do weep so?". Young Fisher answered, "Father, I am so cold and always so hungry. If only someone could make the world warm I would not cry." Fisher frowned and became very thoughtful. "What you ask is a difficult thing and I have not wanted to do it, but you are right. I must bring warmth to the world. I will need some help."
With that, Fisher talked to his friends amongst the animals and soon he, Lynx, Otter, and Wolverine were ready to set off on a journey to bring warmth.
Fisher told them they would have to travel to the highest mountain to get close to the sky. They trekked for days and days until they reached the mountains, and then they climbed and climbed and climbed until they could almost climb no more. Finally they reached the top of the mountain that was closest to the sky.
Fisher said, "now we must work very hard. We must crack the sky so that we can enter the Skyland and bring back some of their warmth to the world. Who will try to crack the sky?"
Lynx was the first to volunteer, and he leaped up as hard as he could to break the sky. The sky was too hard for him, though, and he fell back to the mountain unconscious.
Next, Otter tried to crack the sky. He leaped up as hard as he could, but he just bounced off and slid all the way back down the mountain in the snow. To this day all his cousins and brothers slide in the snow just like that.
Now it was Wolverine's turn. He gathered all his strength, jumped at the sky, and cracked it a tiny little bit. When he saw the crack he was ready to try again and again and again, and soon there was a crack big enough for him and for Fisher to enter the Skyland.
The two of them crept through the crack in the sky and saw a very large village. It was pleasant and warm and everywhere around them was green and flowers. In the village every house had a cage beside it, and every cage had wonderfully coloured creatures who sang sweet songs. "We must let them out," said Fisher, and he and Wolverine unlocked all the cages. The animals in the cages all flew down through the crack to the earth, and that is how we came to have birds.
"Now we must make the sky hole bigger so the warmth can enter it," said Fisher. Wolverine and Fisher worked at enlarging the hole until finally it was so big that Wolverine fell through it, followed by half the warmth of the sky. However, the Sky People soon noticed that their warmth was disappearing and they grabbed their weapons to go and kill the thief.
Fisher soon spotted the Sky People coming after him but he had no time to slip through the hole in the sky. He noticed a large tree in the middle of the village and he climbed it to hide in the very top branches. The Sky People shot their arrows at Fisher but not a one hit him. Finally the best hunter took his aim and fired, hitting Fisher dead on.
Poor Fisher fell to earth and the Sky People closed up the crack in the sky before all the warmth could escape. That is why we only have enough warmth for half of the year.
Fisher didn't die, though. For his bravery he was put in the sky and for half the year you can see him climbing up to Skyland. For the other half of the year he falls towards earth on his back, just as he did when the Sky People shot him.
Showing posts with label First Nations mythology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label First Nations mythology. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 February 2007
Tuesday, 20 February 2007
Coyote and the Stars
Originally posted to Shrubbery, 10 Sept 2003
After Naapi had put the animals on the earth he came back to see what they thought of their home. "Old Man," they said, "we like the daytime very much, but at night it's too dark to see and we keep bumping into things. Can you give us something to help us find our way at night?"
Old Man thought for a moment and then picked up a smooth, polished stone from a riverbed. He threw the stone as hard as he could into the sky where it stuck, becoming the star that never moves (Polaris). He then left for a long time.
When he returned he asked the animals again what they thought of their home. "Old Man," they said, "thank you for the light in the sky to help us find our way, but there is another problem. Sometimes the days are warm but sometimes they are cold. Duck has no way of telling when the he should be flying away for the cold winter, and Hare has no way of knowing when he should change his brown coat for a white one. Can you help us know the seasons?"
Naapi thought for a while and then collected a handful of stones from the riverbed. He walked up to the sky and carefully placed them close to the first stone, but in such a way that they would circle around it in the sky. He made those stones in the shape of Bear.
When he returned, Naapi showed the animals how they could tell the seasons by how far Bear had circled around the first stone. Then he told the animals that he would go back to the sky, and if they brought him more stones he would make all their pictures to go with Bear's.
The animals were very happy about this and soon set about collecting smooth stones to take to Old Man in the sky. He placed the stones very carefully in patterns, one after the other.
Soon, though, the small animals were very tired from running all the way up to the sky. They called to Naapi for help, and he told them to ask Coyote.
Coyote thought for a moment, and told the small animals that if they did the work of collecting stones and putting them in his leather bag he would take them up to Old Man all at once. Naturally he would want a very good picture of himself in the sky as a reward, but the other animals didn't mind and set to work finding the best stones to put in Coyote's sack.
As the small animals worked, Coyote started thinking of the fine picture Naapi would make of him. He thought of his picture being up in the sky forever, always admired by everyone. He'd be remembered long after he was dead. How wonderful that would be!
Coyote was so busy dreaming of his fine picture in the sky that he didn't notice how full the leather bag was getting. It was so full it was practically bursting at the seams, but the animals thought Coyote would tell them when he had enough so they kept bringing more stones. Finally Naapi called out from the sky, "animals, where are my stones? I will be leaving soon, so I must have the stones now if you want your pictures finished."
With that, Coyote looked down at the bag and realised how full it was getting. He knew it would be hard work to get it all the way to the sky before Naapi left. He grabbed the bag in his mouth (oh, it was heavy!) and started trudging to the sky. He slogged along as best he could, but every once in a while a stone or two would fall out of the bag and onto the sky.
Coyote was getting closer, but Old Man was impatient and cried, "animals, where are my stones? I want to finish the pictures." Coyote tried to hurry, but more and more stones fell out of the bag as he ran. They were spilling all over the place. Finally, Coyote made it to where Old Man was waiting, but by then there were very few stones in the bag indeed. Naapi used them to make one more picture.
When Old Man and Coyote went back down to the other animals, the animals wanted to know what had happened to their fine pictures in the sky. Some shapes did look like pictures, but many more of them just looked like scattered stones on the beach. In the middle there was a trail of stones where Coyote had travelled to the sky (the Milky Way).
And they say that the sky looks like that to this day because of Coyote's daydreaming. Coyote was punished for a while by being made into the moon but he was so noisy the other animals eventually asked for Naapi to bring him back down... but as they say, that's another story for another time.
After Naapi had put the animals on the earth he came back to see what they thought of their home. "Old Man," they said, "we like the daytime very much, but at night it's too dark to see and we keep bumping into things. Can you give us something to help us find our way at night?"
Old Man thought for a moment and then picked up a smooth, polished stone from a riverbed. He threw the stone as hard as he could into the sky where it stuck, becoming the star that never moves (Polaris). He then left for a long time.
When he returned he asked the animals again what they thought of their home. "Old Man," they said, "thank you for the light in the sky to help us find our way, but there is another problem. Sometimes the days are warm but sometimes they are cold. Duck has no way of telling when the he should be flying away for the cold winter, and Hare has no way of knowing when he should change his brown coat for a white one. Can you help us know the seasons?"
Naapi thought for a while and then collected a handful of stones from the riverbed. He walked up to the sky and carefully placed them close to the first stone, but in such a way that they would circle around it in the sky. He made those stones in the shape of Bear.
When he returned, Naapi showed the animals how they could tell the seasons by how far Bear had circled around the first stone. Then he told the animals that he would go back to the sky, and if they brought him more stones he would make all their pictures to go with Bear's.
The animals were very happy about this and soon set about collecting smooth stones to take to Old Man in the sky. He placed the stones very carefully in patterns, one after the other.
Soon, though, the small animals were very tired from running all the way up to the sky. They called to Naapi for help, and he told them to ask Coyote.
Coyote thought for a moment, and told the small animals that if they did the work of collecting stones and putting them in his leather bag he would take them up to Old Man all at once. Naturally he would want a very good picture of himself in the sky as a reward, but the other animals didn't mind and set to work finding the best stones to put in Coyote's sack.
As the small animals worked, Coyote started thinking of the fine picture Naapi would make of him. He thought of his picture being up in the sky forever, always admired by everyone. He'd be remembered long after he was dead. How wonderful that would be!
Coyote was so busy dreaming of his fine picture in the sky that he didn't notice how full the leather bag was getting. It was so full it was practically bursting at the seams, but the animals thought Coyote would tell them when he had enough so they kept bringing more stones. Finally Naapi called out from the sky, "animals, where are my stones? I will be leaving soon, so I must have the stones now if you want your pictures finished."
With that, Coyote looked down at the bag and realised how full it was getting. He knew it would be hard work to get it all the way to the sky before Naapi left. He grabbed the bag in his mouth (oh, it was heavy!) and started trudging to the sky. He slogged along as best he could, but every once in a while a stone or two would fall out of the bag and onto the sky.
Coyote was getting closer, but Old Man was impatient and cried, "animals, where are my stones? I want to finish the pictures." Coyote tried to hurry, but more and more stones fell out of the bag as he ran. They were spilling all over the place. Finally, Coyote made it to where Old Man was waiting, but by then there were very few stones in the bag indeed. Naapi used them to make one more picture.
When Old Man and Coyote went back down to the other animals, the animals wanted to know what had happened to their fine pictures in the sky. Some shapes did look like pictures, but many more of them just looked like scattered stones on the beach. In the middle there was a trail of stones where Coyote had travelled to the sky (the Milky Way).
And they say that the sky looks like that to this day because of Coyote's daydreaming. Coyote was punished for a while by being made into the moon but he was so noisy the other animals eventually asked for Naapi to bring him back down... but as they say, that's another story for another time.
Monday, 19 February 2007
Bison's Back
Originally posted to Shrubbery, 7 Sept 2003
Before Naapi put people on the prairie he first gave it to the animals. He showed them how to make homes in the grass since there were no trees, and then he left them to enjoy the world.
Most of the animals got along very well with each other and respected each other, but one felt that since he was so much bigger and faster than the others he didn't have to respect anyone. His name was Bison, and he was sleek and strong and fast. His friend (well, maybe more like a little brother who followed him around and didn't leave him alone) was Fox, and Fox just didn't really care what anyone thought of him.
Bison's favourite thing in the world was to run. When he was in the mood to run he'd tear across the plain at top speed, churning up the soil and not caring a lick for anything or anyone he might run into. And when Bison ran, you just knew that Fox would be bouncing along right behind him, cheering him on at the top of his voice and thinking it was the best game ever.
The problem was, though, that when Bison ran he ran right over the other animals' homes in the grass. No matter how much they begged or reasoned with Bison, he'd just look down his nose at them and snort snobbishly. Sure enough, the next day he'd run right over the homes again with Fox bounding along behind.
When this had happened a few times, the animals decided they had to call on Naapi to help them. "Old Man," they cried, "please come save our homes for us."
Naapi came down and asked them what was wrong. Hadn't he given them the prairie for their very own, and hadn't he told them they should get along with each other? "Oh Naapi," they replied, "we've done everything you asked. We've taken time making our homes here on the prairie, but every time we build our homes Bison and Fox run right over them no matter how hard we plead with them." "Is that so," said Naapi. "I think that if Bison and Fox decide to run tomorrow I will have to watch them."
Sure enough, the next day Bison decided to go for another run. He pawed at the ground with his big hoofs, and Fox bounced with excitement beside him. Not pausing a moment to even think of the other animals, the two tore across the grassland... and straight over the rebuilt homes.
"Bison!" shouted Naapi. When Fox heard the voice he hid behind Bison, but Bison just stood there eyeing Old Man. "Bison," Naapi said, "why do you show such little respect for others? It's true I made you bigger and stronger than the other animals, but that also means you have more responsibility. Never destroy the homes again, or you will suffer for it." With that, Naapi left.
The animals hoped that Naapi's words would make a difference, but the next day Bison decided to go for another run. Fox was a little nervous, but when he saw that Bison wasn't scared of Old Man he soon felt fine about following along as he usually did, cheering at the top of his lungs. The two dashed across the grasslands, picking up speed... and ran right over the homes AGAIN.
This time Naapi didn't call out to Bison. He came down without warning and slapped Bison on the shoulders very, very hard. Bison winced with pain, and Fox tunnelled quickly into the ground so he wouldn't be hit as well.
"Did you not listen when I told you to respect the homes? If you can't listen to warnings, then you must be punished." Old Man raised his arm to slap Bison again, and Bison hunched up his shoulders to keep it from hurting so much. Suddenly, Naapi laughed. "It seems you've chosen your own punishment, Bison. Since you would not stand still to be hit but hunched up your shoulders, you and all of your children will have hunched up shoulders forever." And sure enough, every bison you meet to this day has hunched up shoulders.
Fox stayed quietly in his hole hoping Old Man hadn't seen him, but no such luck. "Fox," he said, "you too have chosen your punishment. You thought that Bison would protect you from the consequences of your actions, but when punishment came you ran and hid. Well, from now on you and your children must find your only protection in the ground you've hidden in." And sure enough, every fox that lives in the grassland to this day must dig holes in the ground for protection.
When the other animals saw that Bison and Fox had been punished, they rebuilt their homes and lived happy and free on the prairie. That is, they lived happy and free until Naapi decided to make people... but that's another story for another time.
Before Naapi put people on the prairie he first gave it to the animals. He showed them how to make homes in the grass since there were no trees, and then he left them to enjoy the world.
Most of the animals got along very well with each other and respected each other, but one felt that since he was so much bigger and faster than the others he didn't have to respect anyone. His name was Bison, and he was sleek and strong and fast. His friend (well, maybe more like a little brother who followed him around and didn't leave him alone) was Fox, and Fox just didn't really care what anyone thought of him.
Bison's favourite thing in the world was to run. When he was in the mood to run he'd tear across the plain at top speed, churning up the soil and not caring a lick for anything or anyone he might run into. And when Bison ran, you just knew that Fox would be bouncing along right behind him, cheering him on at the top of his voice and thinking it was the best game ever.
The problem was, though, that when Bison ran he ran right over the other animals' homes in the grass. No matter how much they begged or reasoned with Bison, he'd just look down his nose at them and snort snobbishly. Sure enough, the next day he'd run right over the homes again with Fox bounding along behind.
When this had happened a few times, the animals decided they had to call on Naapi to help them. "Old Man," they cried, "please come save our homes for us."
Naapi came down and asked them what was wrong. Hadn't he given them the prairie for their very own, and hadn't he told them they should get along with each other? "Oh Naapi," they replied, "we've done everything you asked. We've taken time making our homes here on the prairie, but every time we build our homes Bison and Fox run right over them no matter how hard we plead with them." "Is that so," said Naapi. "I think that if Bison and Fox decide to run tomorrow I will have to watch them."
Sure enough, the next day Bison decided to go for another run. He pawed at the ground with his big hoofs, and Fox bounced with excitement beside him. Not pausing a moment to even think of the other animals, the two tore across the grassland... and straight over the rebuilt homes.
"Bison!" shouted Naapi. When Fox heard the voice he hid behind Bison, but Bison just stood there eyeing Old Man. "Bison," Naapi said, "why do you show such little respect for others? It's true I made you bigger and stronger than the other animals, but that also means you have more responsibility. Never destroy the homes again, or you will suffer for it." With that, Naapi left.
The animals hoped that Naapi's words would make a difference, but the next day Bison decided to go for another run. Fox was a little nervous, but when he saw that Bison wasn't scared of Old Man he soon felt fine about following along as he usually did, cheering at the top of his lungs. The two dashed across the grasslands, picking up speed... and ran right over the homes AGAIN.
This time Naapi didn't call out to Bison. He came down without warning and slapped Bison on the shoulders very, very hard. Bison winced with pain, and Fox tunnelled quickly into the ground so he wouldn't be hit as well.
"Did you not listen when I told you to respect the homes? If you can't listen to warnings, then you must be punished." Old Man raised his arm to slap Bison again, and Bison hunched up his shoulders to keep it from hurting so much. Suddenly, Naapi laughed. "It seems you've chosen your own punishment, Bison. Since you would not stand still to be hit but hunched up your shoulders, you and all of your children will have hunched up shoulders forever." And sure enough, every bison you meet to this day has hunched up shoulders.
Fox stayed quietly in his hole hoping Old Man hadn't seen him, but no such luck. "Fox," he said, "you too have chosen your punishment. You thought that Bison would protect you from the consequences of your actions, but when punishment came you ran and hid. Well, from now on you and your children must find your only protection in the ground you've hidden in." And sure enough, every fox that lives in the grassland to this day must dig holes in the ground for protection.
When the other animals saw that Bison and Fox had been punished, they rebuilt their homes and lived happy and free on the prairie. That is, they lived happy and free until Naapi decided to make people... but that's another story for another time.
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Coyote Steals Fire
Originally posted to Shrubbery, 2 Sept 2003
A long time ago when Naapi had first put the Blackfoot people on the earth, he left them for a while to see how they did in this place. When he returned, he asked them what they thought of this land he had given them.
"Old Man," the people said, "we love the springtime when everything comes to life. We love the summer when there is warmth and plenty of food. We even love the fall when the colours are so beautiful. But the winter -- the winter is so hard and we are so cold. We put on as many clothes as we can, but we still can't keep warm. Some of us have even died from the cold. Can't you give us a way to keep warm?"
Naapi thought about this and finally he told the people, "go talk to Coyote. He is wise and knows many things. Maybe he knows a way for you to keep warm."
So the people send their bravest man to find Coyote and tell him of their trouble. When he heard the story, Coyote felt sorry for the people so he promised he'd think of a way to help them through the winter. Coyote went away and thought for a long time and finally he returned to the people and said, "High on the mountain there is a camp. The Fire Beings live there and guard the warmth very carefully. They don't share warmth and it will be hard to steal without help, but if my friends agree to help me I will try to take some warmth for you."
So Coyote went to talk to his friends amongst the animals. Most of them didn't want to help the people because they knew it would be very dangerous, but a few who'd felt sorry for the people in the winter decided they would try to take the fire. Coyote and his friends headed up the mountain to the fire camp. When they got close, Coyote told his friends that he would sneak up on the Fire Beings and try to find a way to take the warmth if they would be ready to take their turns after he had it. Everyone agreed, so Coyote sneaked up silently to the fire camp.
At the fire camp were three Fire Beings with ugly long teeth and ugly long claws. They each took a turn at guarding the warmth from anyone who tried to steal it. Coyote watched them carefully, and he noticed that while two of the Fire Beings were very good at watching the fire, the third one was lazy. When his turn came he would stretch and yawn and scratch himself and only then wander over to the fire. "Here is my chance," thought Coyote. So he waited. The first Fire Being took his turn at guard. The second Fire Being took his turn. And the third fire being stretched and yawned... and Coyote raced in, grabbed a piece of the warmth, and ran down the mountain as fast as his legs could go with the three Fire Beings chasing after him.
Coyote ran and ran, but soon he grew tired and the Fire Beings caught up. He called out to his friends, "Someone take the fire," and a little voice said, "I will!" Just then, a Fire Being caught the very tip of Coyote's tail. They say from that day to this all coyotes have a black-tipped tail from where the Fire Being burned it.
Coyote threw the fire to Squirrel, who put it carefully on her back and shaded it with her tail as she ran through the trees. The Fire Beings had to work hard to keep up to little Squirrel. After a while, though, she grew tired. She called out, "Someone take the fire," and a little voice said, "I will!" Squirrel threw the fire, but when she tried to uncurl her tail she found it had burned into the shape she'd held it over the fire. They say from that day to this all squirrels must hold their tails on their backs.
Little Chipmunk took the fire and ran with all his might, but he was so small that the Fire Beings soon caught up with him. He called out, "Someone take the fire," and a voice said, "I will!" Chipmunk threw the fire, but not before one of the Fire beings raked his long, ugly claws right down little Chipmunk's back. And they say from that day to this all chipmunks have stripes down their backs from the Fire Being's claws.
Frog was the next to take the fire, and he hopped off towards the pond. The Fire Beings were very close behind now and soon Frog needed help. "Someone take the fire," he cried, and a voice said, "I will!". Frog tried to throw the fire, but a Fire Being had a hold of his long tail. Frog struggled and pulled until, pop! his tail came right off in the Fire Being's hand. They say from that day to this no frogs have tails.
Frog threw the fire to Wood, and Wood held the fire very close within himself. The Fire Beings tried to shake the fire out of Wood, but Wood wouldn't let go. They tried to kick the fire out and pound the fire out, but Wood was too stubborn. Finally, the Fire Beings decided that no one could get the fire from Wood. They went back to their camp to guard what fire they had left.
Coyote went to the people and said, "Come see. We have worked hard, but we have found you warmth for the winter." The people followed Coyote, but when he pointed all they saw was Wood. "How can Wood keep us warm?" they asked. "All he does is sit there." Coyote explained to them that Wood had taken the fire right into himself. Kicking and pounding won't convince him to give it up, but if you treat Wood with respect and rub pieces of him together just right, Wood will share some of the precious fire with everyone.
The people thanked Coyote and all his friends, and from then on the winter wasn't so hard. The people sometimes forgot to respect Wood and got into trouble with fire but as they say, that's another story for another time.
A long time ago when Naapi had first put the Blackfoot people on the earth, he left them for a while to see how they did in this place. When he returned, he asked them what they thought of this land he had given them.
"Old Man," the people said, "we love the springtime when everything comes to life. We love the summer when there is warmth and plenty of food. We even love the fall when the colours are so beautiful. But the winter -- the winter is so hard and we are so cold. We put on as many clothes as we can, but we still can't keep warm. Some of us have even died from the cold. Can't you give us a way to keep warm?"
Naapi thought about this and finally he told the people, "go talk to Coyote. He is wise and knows many things. Maybe he knows a way for you to keep warm."
So the people send their bravest man to find Coyote and tell him of their trouble. When he heard the story, Coyote felt sorry for the people so he promised he'd think of a way to help them through the winter. Coyote went away and thought for a long time and finally he returned to the people and said, "High on the mountain there is a camp. The Fire Beings live there and guard the warmth very carefully. They don't share warmth and it will be hard to steal without help, but if my friends agree to help me I will try to take some warmth for you."
So Coyote went to talk to his friends amongst the animals. Most of them didn't want to help the people because they knew it would be very dangerous, but a few who'd felt sorry for the people in the winter decided they would try to take the fire. Coyote and his friends headed up the mountain to the fire camp. When they got close, Coyote told his friends that he would sneak up on the Fire Beings and try to find a way to take the warmth if they would be ready to take their turns after he had it. Everyone agreed, so Coyote sneaked up silently to the fire camp.
At the fire camp were three Fire Beings with ugly long teeth and ugly long claws. They each took a turn at guarding the warmth from anyone who tried to steal it. Coyote watched them carefully, and he noticed that while two of the Fire Beings were very good at watching the fire, the third one was lazy. When his turn came he would stretch and yawn and scratch himself and only then wander over to the fire. "Here is my chance," thought Coyote. So he waited. The first Fire Being took his turn at guard. The second Fire Being took his turn. And the third fire being stretched and yawned... and Coyote raced in, grabbed a piece of the warmth, and ran down the mountain as fast as his legs could go with the three Fire Beings chasing after him.
Coyote ran and ran, but soon he grew tired and the Fire Beings caught up. He called out to his friends, "Someone take the fire," and a little voice said, "I will!" Just then, a Fire Being caught the very tip of Coyote's tail. They say from that day to this all coyotes have a black-tipped tail from where the Fire Being burned it.
Coyote threw the fire to Squirrel, who put it carefully on her back and shaded it with her tail as she ran through the trees. The Fire Beings had to work hard to keep up to little Squirrel. After a while, though, she grew tired. She called out, "Someone take the fire," and a little voice said, "I will!" Squirrel threw the fire, but when she tried to uncurl her tail she found it had burned into the shape she'd held it over the fire. They say from that day to this all squirrels must hold their tails on their backs.
Little Chipmunk took the fire and ran with all his might, but he was so small that the Fire Beings soon caught up with him. He called out, "Someone take the fire," and a voice said, "I will!" Chipmunk threw the fire, but not before one of the Fire beings raked his long, ugly claws right down little Chipmunk's back. And they say from that day to this all chipmunks have stripes down their backs from the Fire Being's claws.
Frog was the next to take the fire, and he hopped off towards the pond. The Fire Beings were very close behind now and soon Frog needed help. "Someone take the fire," he cried, and a voice said, "I will!". Frog tried to throw the fire, but a Fire Being had a hold of his long tail. Frog struggled and pulled until, pop! his tail came right off in the Fire Being's hand. They say from that day to this no frogs have tails.
Frog threw the fire to Wood, and Wood held the fire very close within himself. The Fire Beings tried to shake the fire out of Wood, but Wood wouldn't let go. They tried to kick the fire out and pound the fire out, but Wood was too stubborn. Finally, the Fire Beings decided that no one could get the fire from Wood. They went back to their camp to guard what fire they had left.
Coyote went to the people and said, "Come see. We have worked hard, but we have found you warmth for the winter." The people followed Coyote, but when he pointed all they saw was Wood. "How can Wood keep us warm?" they asked. "All he does is sit there." Coyote explained to them that Wood had taken the fire right into himself. Kicking and pounding won't convince him to give it up, but if you treat Wood with respect and rub pieces of him together just right, Wood will share some of the precious fire with everyone.
The people thanked Coyote and all his friends, and from then on the winter wasn't so hard. The people sometimes forgot to respect Wood and got into trouble with fire but as they say, that's another story for another time.
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