This is a Cree story about how Earth was burned, but only three people along with a handful of terrestrial animals survived. No details about aquatic animals are mentioned. The people who had survived were a man, his mother, and sister. The man was the one who came to know of the world ending in fire. His father didn't survive because he didn't think the planet would be engulfed in flames, because he was at odds with his son.
The man created a bow and arrows. He shot an arrow in each cardinal direction, and the land where each arrow landed became a corner of a square of earth that would be untouched by the impending fire. The man told everyone that he wanted to save to find themselves in the square area of land when the fire came if they wanted to survive. Many chose not to come, as they didn't believe him.
The fire eventually came. The man and his father were still fighting, so this is how and why the father died.
The fire thrashed freely on Earth but was eventually put out by the water. Thus, a new cycle of life had to begin again with the surviving animals, 3 humans, and the recently burnt land.
Of the animals that survived on the patch of ground with the man, his mother, and his sister, there were a beaver, rabbit, squirrel, bear, caribou, and deer. These are all the terrestrial beings that survived.
The man took it upon himself to be the new ruler of these animals and named them according to their behavior during this time period.
The beaver was placed in water for obvious reasons. The rabbit was placed on land because its legs were too long and wouldn't function as well in water, despite its pleas to be an aquatic animal. The squirrel's wish to be a bear was denied because it was too loud. The squirrel ended up crying so much that its eyes became bright and swollen. The bear was named as such because he was nice, wise, and quiet. An animal amongst them wanted to be a caribou, but none of the animals could remember who. Lastly, the deer was made because it was so swift and could outrun all its pursuers. (I'm assuming cheetahs weren't around.)
After all this, the man put a mark on all the animals to be able to identify all of them. He then named his mother Robin because she was friendly, her sister Golden-winged Woodpecker because she was beautiful, and himself Blackbird because he would only come every spring.
Bibliography: Katharine Berry Judson, Myths and Legends of British North America, Source
The man created a bow and arrows. He shot an arrow in each cardinal direction, and the land where each arrow landed became a corner of a square of earth that would be untouched by the impending fire. The man told everyone that he wanted to save to find themselves in the square area of land when the fire came if they wanted to survive. Many chose not to come, as they didn't believe him.
The fire eventually came. The man and his father were still fighting, so this is how and why the father died.
The fire thrashed freely on Earth but was eventually put out by the water. Thus, a new cycle of life had to begin again with the surviving animals, 3 humans, and the recently burnt land.
Of the animals that survived on the patch of ground with the man, his mother, and his sister, there were a beaver, rabbit, squirrel, bear, caribou, and deer. These are all the terrestrial beings that survived.
The man took it upon himself to be the new ruler of these animals and named them according to their behavior during this time period.
The beaver was placed in water for obvious reasons. The rabbit was placed on land because its legs were too long and wouldn't function as well in water, despite its pleas to be an aquatic animal. The squirrel's wish to be a bear was denied because it was too loud. The squirrel ended up crying so much that its eyes became bright and swollen. The bear was named as such because he was nice, wise, and quiet. An animal amongst them wanted to be a caribou, but none of the animals could remember who. Lastly, the deer was made because it was so swift and could outrun all its pursuers. (I'm assuming cheetahs weren't around.)
After all this, the man put a mark on all the animals to be able to identify all of them. He then named his mother Robin because she was friendly, her sister Golden-winged Woodpecker because she was beautiful, and himself Blackbird because he would only come every spring.
Bibliography: Katharine Berry Judson, Myths and Legends of British North America, Source
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