In the ancient Dreamtime, the world was a cold place where people ate their food raw and huddled together for warmth. Only the two Karatgurk sisters possessed the secret of fire, which they kept hidden at the ends of their digging sticks. They used it to cook succulent yams, but they were selfish and refused to share the flame with anyone else. The Crow, a clever and observant bird, watched them from the shadows. He devised a plan by burying several snakes in an ant mound where the sisters usually dug for food. When the sisters arrived and began to dig, they uncovered the snakes and struck at them in a panic. In the chaos, they swung their digging sticks so hard that the coals flew out. The Crow, waiting for this exact moment, swooped down and caught a glowing ember in his beak. As he flew across the land, the heat scorched his feathers a deep, permanent black. He traveled from camp to camp, lighting fires for all the people, ensuring that no one would ever have to live in the cold darkness again.
True power and resources should be shared for the common good rather than hoarded for personal gain.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of How Fire Was Stolen?
The moral is that essential resources should be shared with the community. It warns against the selfishness of hoarding knowledge or tools that could benefit everyone's survival.
Who is the main character in this Dreamtime story?
The main character is the Crow (often known as Waa), who acts as a trickster hero by stealing fire from its guardians to give it to humanity.
Why is the Crow black according to the legend?
According to the story, the Crow's feathers were originally a different color, but they were scorched black by the heat of the ember he carried in his beak.
Which Aboriginal group does this story belong to?
Variations of this story exist across Australia, but it is most notably associated with the Kulin nation of present-day Victoria.
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Good night.
