Reading Notes: British North America, Part A

Beliefs: "Afraid of Nothing" made the entire world. There was a great war against the mountains (human, made the world uninhabitable). She waged a war against these mountains. This could potentially be a way to think up an entirely new story. Could be an action tale between a heroine and some (human?) mountains. There is no description about the actual war itself, so this would be an exercise of my imagination. "Afraid of Nothing" would be a female general of a great army, while the mountains would be personified to be generals of the opposing army. A very strong contender for story post.

Creation of the World: I've read a version of this story in a Native American Philosophy class! An interesting origin story, especially with a focus on the Old Toad. Could be an interesting perspective to write it from. He watches all of these animals fall to their deaths essentially in order to be a hero, and he reluctantly puts himself forward to help. Maybe I could change the end of the story and have him be successful as he is in the original, but have him die for the cause.

Grizzly Bear and the Coyote: This is another kind of origin story, specifically about days and nights and the seasons. It's interesting that these two animals were the ones that are the two main characters in this story. I guess I can't think of any better animals to make these kinds of decisions for the world, but these choices seem especially odd to me.

The Burning of the World: This could be an interesting mashup with an interpretation of Noah's Ark. Instead of the great flood, it's the great fire. That would actually work really well, the more I think about it. A second great contender for the story post.

British North America, originally told by the First Nations people of Canada, story by Judson. Link to reading here.

(Burning of the World, web source: Wikimedia)