Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story

This picture book legend from the Salish people of Montana tells how the animals worked together to use fire to prepare the earth for the first humans. This book is part of a Fire History Project that includes a video, DVD, lesson plans and web site. The story is retold by Salish elder Johnny Arlee and illustrated by tribal artist Sam Sandoval. Information on the Salish alphabet is included. Extensive Note to Teachers and Parents contains excellent information on the importance of fire to Native peoples.

Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story is a picturebook rendition of a story directly from the cultural tradition of the Salish people of Montana. Retold by Salish elder Johnny Arlee, and wonderfully illustrated in full color by tribal artist Sam Sandoval, Beaver Steals Fire recounts how the animals worked together to obtain fire and help prepare the world for inhabitation by human beings. Beaver Steals Fire is presented with the full support of The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Division of Fire; a note to the reader at the beginning asks those who use Beaver Steals Fire in the classroom or others who read it aloud to orally tell or discuss the story only in winter, when snow is on the ground, as this is a strongly ingrained part of tribal seasonal tradition. A beautifully presented legend, highly recommended.