ANI HYUNTIKWALASKI  – This story explains how man acquired fire through the actions of the Thunderers and the little Water Spider. The Thunderers, who inhabit the Darkening Land in the west, are the sons of the great spirits Kanati (The Lucky Hunter) and Selu (Corn). The spider is a culture hero that appears often in most Native American mythology but is otherwise absent from Southeastern stories.

Long ago, the world was without fire and was cold until the Thunderers set fire to a hollow sycamore tree with their lightning. The animals could see the smoke but could not reach the tree, because it grew on an island.

Various birds volunteered to fly to the tree and bring back the fire. The Raven went first, but while he was wondering what to do, his feathers were burned black, and he returned without fire. The little Screech Owl went next, but as he was looking down inside the tree, a blast of hot air nearly burned out his eyes. He managed to fly home, but it was some time before he recovered, and his eyes remain red to this day. The Hoot Owl and Horned Owl tried next, but the smoke from the now fiercely burning fire nearly blinded them, and ashes borne by the wind made white rings around their eyes that they could not rub away.

No other birds would venture to the island, so the Black Racer snake and the great Blacksnake both swam to the fire and were scorched black. At last the Water Spider volunteered to go and bring back the fire. She spun a small bowl, a tusti bowl, and fastened it to her back. The Water Spider crossed the water to the island, put one coal of fire into her bowl, and returned safely with it. Ever since, man has had fire.

See also Culture Hero(es); Kanati and Selu; Spider

References and further reading:

• Hudson, Charles. The Southeastern Indians. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1992. First published 1976.
• Mooney, James. James Mooney’s History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees: Containing the Full Texts of “Myths of the Cherokee” (1900) and “The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees” (1891) as published by the Bureau of American Ethnology; With a New Biographical Introduction, “James Mooney and the Eastern Cherokees.” Ashville, N.C.: Historical Images, 1992.
• Ugvwiyuhi. Journey to Sunrise: Myths and Legends of the Cherokee. Claremore, Okla.: Egi Press, 1977.

Handbook of Native American Mythology written by Dawn E. Bastian and Judy K. Mitchell – Copyright © 2004