Native American Stories

How Coyote Stole Fire

A long time ago, humans came into being and they loved the world. They loved the springtime with the beautiful green plant life. They loved the summer, a time of berries and growth. As autumn came, the nights became colder and the humans shivered. The children and elders died from the cold. Winter was a hard time.

One day Coyote walked by the human village. He could hear the crying of the humans as they mourned their loved ones who had died in the cold of winter. Spring was finally coming and Coyote heard an old one say, “Feel the warmth of the sun. If only we could have such warmth in the winter to heat our teepees.” Coyote was not of the People and had no need for fire, but he felt sorry for the men and women who were sad about the others who had died.

Coyote knew that on the top of a far mountain, three Fire Beings lived. These Fire Beings kept  the fire and would not share with others. Coyote crept to the mountain to see how the Fire Beings were guarding the fire. Coyote watched the Fire Beings for many days. He watched as the fire was fed with dry things from the land like pine cones and twigs. He watched how the Fire Beings took turns guarding the fire one at a time at night while the others slept.

Coyote went back down the mountain to speak to his friends among the People. He told them of the shivering hairless humans and their need for fire. He told them of the selfish Fire Beings and their inability to share. He asked his friends among the People to help him. Squirrel, Chipmunk, Frog and Wood all offered to help Coyote bring fire to the humans.

Coyote crept back up the mountain. As the Fire Beings were changing the guard for the fire, Coyote leapt up to the fire and took a burning coal. Immediately, he turned and ran down the mountain. The Fire Beings flew after him, clawing to try and get the fire back. One Being touched the tip of Coyote’s tail which has since always been white.

Coyote threw the fire and Squirrel caught it. The coal touched his back and his tail has been curved since then. Then Squirrel threw the ember to Chipmunk, who froze in fear. Finally he turned and ran. A Fire Being clawed his back, giving him white stripes forever. Chipmunk threw the burning coal to Frog who turned and ran. One of the Fire Beings grabbed Frog’s tail, but Frog jumped and tore free and thus he has no tail. The Fire Beings came at Frog again and Frog flung the coal at Wood.

Wood kept the coal safe, but the Fire Beings could not figure out how to get the coal from Wood. They yelled at Wood, they sang to Wood, they even promised presents to Wood, but Wood did not give up the coal. Finally, the Fire Beings returned to the mountain and left the People alone, assuming that if they could not release the coal, neither could the People.

Coyote took Wood to the human village and showed them how to get fire from Wood. He took two sticks and rubbed them together. Then he spun a sharpened stick in a hole in another piece of wood. Fire came to the humans and they were never cold again.

Vocabulary:

Creep/crept

leap/leapt

shiver

spin

twig

ember

Questions

Why did the humans need fire?

How did Coyote help?

Why does Squirrel have a curved tail? 

Why does Chipmunk have white stripes on his back?

Why doesn’t Frog have a tail?

text source uua.org

Create Your Own Myth

What happens in the beginning of a story?

In the middle?

In the end?

1. Choose a fact or behavior that you will explain in your story.

"This is the story about why people have fire"

"This is the story about why they dance chotis/flamenco."

"This is the story about why Vallecas came into existence." 

"This is the story about why Bernabeu Stadium is where it is."

2. How was life before Vallecas / people had fire / Flamenco? 

Give two details: What did the Earth look like? What did people look like? How did people dress? What did people/animals do? Did people have families like they do today?

3. Think of a big problem and /or a villain. 

People were unhappy. The king was evil. Everyone had to wear bathing suits in the winter. A stranger arrived. There was nowhere for Real Madrid fans to watch football. 

4. Think of a hero

Why is this person or animal special/different? What skills does she have? What does she look like?

5.  What happens when the hero tries to solve the problem?

6. How does the hero solve the problem? (Maybe she does, maybe she doesn't).

How Coyote Stole Fire Activity

Native American Stories #2