Little Badger and the Fire Spirit

Part of the ground-breaking Kanata Classics list, with a new introduction by the author, Little Badger and the Fire Spirit, initially published in 1968, is Maria Campbell’s recreation of a classic traditional story about how humans first acquired fire.

Eight-year-old Ahsinee is overjoyed that she gets to visit her grandparents and spend the whole summer in their little log house. Every night, she asks her Mooshoom for a story, and one evening, she asks for the story of fire. With a puff of his pipe, he tells the story of Little Badger and Grey Coyote.

Long ago, when the people and animals all spoke one language, Grey Coyote helped a young blind boy named Little Badger and taught him about the earth and the world around him. When Little Badger’s people needed heat from the freezing cold, he set off with Grey Coyote’s guidance to find the dangerous and elusive fire spirit in the heart of a mountain.

A heartwarming and charming tale of bravery, compassion, and friendship, this reissue of a 1968 classic is filled with beautiful new art, bringing to life the teachings and wisdom of one of our most respected Elders.