Week 11 Reading: Myths of the Cherokee, Part A

Here is a recap of some of my favorite stories from the Un-Textbook unit Myths of the Cherokee

The First Fire: Long ago, a strike of lightning caused a sycamore tree on an island catch on fire. Many animals saw this from off of the island, and they decided to send birds and water snakes to investigate. None of the birds or snakes could bring back the fire, for it was too hot and burned them when they got near. Finally, a water spider crossed thew water and brought back a coal of fire into a bowl woven by her own thread.

Image Source. Water Spider

The Journey to the Sunrise: A group of young men decided to head far east to figure out where the sun comes from. They pass tribes heard and unheard of until they finally reach their destination. They found a door between the ground and the sky where the sun, which seemed to be shaped like a man (but was too bright to look directly at and confirm), came out of. One tried to enter this door to the sky as it was open and the sun was coming out of it, but he was crushed by a rock which shut the door when the sun was up. The other men didn't want to try, so they headed back home. The long journey saw them return as old men.

The Deluge: A man's dog tells him there will soon be a worldwide flood, and he must build a raft to protect himself. The dog's warning turns out to be true. It rained for so long that the water rose to the mountains. The water eventually recedes, but the man and his family see piles of bones in the valley that was once their home. They are the only survivors of the flood.