The First Fire; A Cherokee Story

This story takes place during a time when animals could do many of the things that people do. The Creator gave the animals the world to live in, but they were without a source of heat at night. Great Thunder and his sons saw the plight of the animals, so he sent lightning down to strike a tree. The tree burst into flames, but because it was on an island, there was no way for the animals to easily get to the tree. Many animals tried to bring the fire over the water to the shore, but they were all unsuccessful. One small creature, the Water Spider, then volunteered. Curious, the animals said to her, “We know you could get there safely, but how would you bring the fire back without getting burned?” Water Spider was successful and, to this day, is revered in Cherokee culture.