My Itinerary ({: itinerary.length :})

{: event.badge :}

{: event.title :}

{: event.dates :} {: event.dateDescription :}
{: item :}
Suitable for {: item :}

Here Be Dragons co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless - opens 13 July. Admission included with ticket to the Galleries

1001 Stories Collection

How Coyote Stole Fire

Audio
1001 howcoyotestolefire
Added on 29th June 2020

Oral tradition Native American folktale

North and Central America Animals Myths and legends
1001 , Audio , Text

Coyote faces the monstrous fire beings and, with the help of squirrel, chipmunk and frog, brings fire to the freezing people.

Story

When you live outside in the wild, cold weather can be fatal. In this story, Coyote realises that he can help the freezing humans of his community by bringing them fire. However, in order to bring warmth to their tents, he must face the Fire Beings who live on a far-away mountain top…

Why we chose it

This was one of the stories chosen by Geraldine McCaughrean for our World Stories project with St Ebbes School in 2016. It became one of the Learning Team’s favourite stories to tell and was much enjoyed by primary school visitors.

Where it came from

How Coyote Stole Fire is a folktale from Native America. Coyote is a mythical figure for many Native American tribes and there are many stories about him. In some stories he teaches and helps, in others he is a clever trickster. Sometimes he is both. How Coyote Stole Fire has been attributed to the Shoshone and the Karuk tribes but others have similar versions of the tale.

Where it went next

The tale has largely been transmitted orally between communities, along with many other Native American tales which focus upon the figure of the Coyote

Associated stories

Many stories exist about Coyote and his pursuit of warmth or light, such as How Coyote stole daylight. The Zuni tribe of Southwest America tell the tale of How the Eagle and the Coyote Stole the Sun’ in which the Coyote releases the moon from a box and brings winter upon his homeland.

Added on 29th June 2020

Oral tradition Native American folktale

North and Central America Animals Myths and legends
1001 , Audio , Text

Story Resources

  • How Coyote Stole Fire story text PDF (38.676 KB)
    Download