How CROW brought FIRE to the World

One night one of our old Story Tellers came by our Wik-Wum. Here’s what he told us:

Before there were humans the Earth was warm and all the beings were happy. Then snow boy made snow fly and Grandpa North stood behind him with swirling winds that carried deep snow-fall over everything, and small beings, like chipmunk, had to climb on to elk and bear to get above it.

The Beings wanted to ask owl to fly up to the 12th heaven to ask the Creator to stop Snow, but night flying Owl could get lost in the sunlight, sooo Raccoon was asked... but he gets lost because he forgets where he’s going, sooo Fox was asked, who was busy playing tricks of course. Hummm!

While the beings discussed this Crow flew down with an offer, I'll help!

He was made of bright sky and rainbow colors. For 3 days he flew up past clouds, stars and the Moon to the listening Creator who heard Crow’s snow stopping song.

Creator said Snow and Cold are free spirit beings, I won't interfere, here...
Take this down to Earth to help Beings stay warm. Creator handed Crow a Fire Stick

By the time Crow got to earth the soot had blackened his feathers and the smoke had roughened his voice making him tearful about his look and sound.

The Beings had vanished under snow’s robe, except for some treetops, so he flew around the woods, clearing melting snow. You are Brave the Creator said looking down. Humans won't hunt you for meat, and the skies colors in your shining black feathers I'll remind Beings of how you helped to protect them from snow and cold with fire, leaving just enough snow to help hunters with their tracking. Time to tie up my story Bag...

WM Sauts – Wik-Wum Life Series