Reading Notes:

(Grizzly Bear Yellowstone via Wikimedia Commons)

-Once upon a time, Grizzly Bear told Coyote that he has all of the power - more than anyone on earth including the people

-Grizzly Bear was complaining that he does not like how little time out of the year it is dark longer, so he wanted to change it

-He claimed that when he wished for something to happen, it happened

-Coyote explained how this would impact the people too much

-Grizzly Bear ignored him and didn't care because he was obviously really selfish

-Coyote tried to tell him no again

-Then Grizzly Bear starting dancing and singing about darkness and saying that it should be dark all the time

-At the same time, Coyote was singing and dancing about light

-When either of them was singing louder, it became what the louder was singing about

-It was a constant shift between light and dark

-Once Grizzly Bear got tired, he tried to compromise and say it should be half dark and half light

-Coyote agreed

-Then Grizzly Bear complained about how long the year is and was upset that winter was not long enough

-He tried to make it 22 moons long, but Coyote said people would die

-Coyote suggested they make winter 11 moons long, but Grizzly Bear wasn't happy

-They agreed for it to be the amount of feathers in Flicker's tail

-When they counted, there were 12 feathers in Flicker's tail

-In the end, Coyote saved people from the dark and cold 

-There would be six months of summer and six months of winter 

Bibliography: "Grizzly Bear and Coyote" from Myths and Legends of British Norman America by Katharine Berry Judson; link to the reading online