The Cherokee Nation like many other tribal nations from the North American continent has its own specific stories pertaining to the world's creation and a variety of different topics. Animals play a central role in the storytelling process, being presented as humanoid in nature concerning their ability to speak and operate in a normal society similar to our own. The stories in the first half of this reading are surprisingly similar to the initial creation story of Christianity, with further cultural explanations for how the tribe came to be introduced to sunlight, fire, weather, and other features of nature itself that would affect members of the tribe on a daily basis. Focusing on a retelling of the discovery of fire would be an interesting story approach that does not lead me to trying to present a new story concerning the creation of the world, according to this specific tribe. The discovery of fire could potentially be made by a young tribe member who goes onto to become a chieftain in the nation, or may even be on the road to redemption when he or she discover the tool that would make the ultimate difference in the lives of their tribal members.
Bibliography: Myths of the Cherokees, James Mooney
Image: The Great Seal of the Cherokee Nation, source: Wikimedia Commons
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