In the beginning, the world was cold and there was no fire and the world was cold, until the Thunders (Ani-Hyuntikwalaski), who lived up in Galunlati sent lightning and put fire in the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree, which grew on an island. The animals knew of this because they saw the smoke coming out of the top of the tree but they could not get to it because of the water. They held council to decide what to do. This was a long time ago. The rest of this story is posted below the picture.

NOTE -- In the set the longer necklace can be worn by a woman and the shorter necklace worn by a man . . or both necklaces worn together with the earrings.

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Every animal that could fly or swim was anxious to go after the fire. The Raven offered and because he was so big and strong they thought he could surely do the work so he was sent first. He flew high and far across the water and alighted on the sycamore tree but while he was wondering what to do next, the heat had scorched all his feathers black and he was scared and back back without the fire.

The little Screech Owl (Wa'huhu') volunteered to go and reached the place safely but while he was looking down into the hollow tree a blast of hot air came up and nearly burned out his eyes. He managed to fly home as best he could but it was a long time before he coudl see well and his eyes are red to this day. Then the Hooting Owl (U'guku') and Horned Owl (Tskili) went but by the time they got to the hollow tree the fire was burning so fiercely that the smoke nearly blinded them, and the ashes carried up by the wind made white rings about their eyes. They had to come home again without the fire and with all their rubbing they were never able to get rid of the white rings.

No more of the birds would venture and so the little Uksu'hi snake (the black racer) said he would go through the water and bring back the fire. He swam across to the island and crawled through the grass to the tree and went in by a small hole at the bottom. The heat and the smoke were too much for him too and after dodging about blindly over the hot ashes until he was almost on fire himself he managed by good luck to get out again at the same hole, but his body had been scorched black and since then he has had the habit of darting and doubling on his track as if trying to escape from close quarters. He came back and teh great black snake "The Climber" (Gulegi) offered to go for fire. He swam over to the island and climbed up the tree on the outside, as the black snake always does, but when he put his head down into the hole the smoke choked him so that he fell into the burning stump and before he could blimb out again he was as black as the Uksu'hi.

They held another council because there was still no fire and the world was cold, but birds, snakes and four-footed animals all had some excuse for not going because they were all afraid to venture near the burning sycamore, until at last Kanane'ski Amai'yehi (the water spider) said she would go. This is not the water spider that looks like a mosquito but the other one with black downy hair and red stripes on her body. She can run on top of the water or dive to the bottom, so there would be no trouble to get over to the island but the question was, "How could she bring back the fire?" Water Spider said, "I'll manage that." She spun a thread from her body and wove it into the tusti bowl, which she fastened on her back. Then she crossed over to the island and through the grass to where the fire was still burning. She put one little coal of fire into her bowl and came back with it and ever since we have had fire and the Water Spider still keeps her tusti bowl.

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