Moose and Rabbit, once equal in size and nameless, compete to determine who will become the moose. During their wrestling match near a fire, Rabbit burns his hind feet, causing them to draw up, while Moose singes his rump. As a result, Moose’s rump appears burned, and Rabbit’s altered feet prevent him from becoming the moose.
Source:
Chipewyan Texts
by Pliny Earle Goddard
The American Museum of Natural History – Anthropological Papers
Volume X, Part 1
New York, 1912
► Themes of the story
Mythical Creatures: The anthropomorphic portrayal of Moose and Rabbit engaging in human-like activities.
Conflict with Nature: The struggle between the two animals, influenced by natural elements like fire.
Origin of Things: The tale explains the distinctive physical features of moose and rabbits.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Chipewyan people
One time Moose and Rabbit were having a contest. They were then of the same size and were without names. They were fighting to see who would be moose.
“The one who is the stronger will be moose,” one of them proposed. They began to wrestle near the fire. Rabbit was pushed near the fire and stepped into it with both his hind feet which were burned. Then moose fell back and singed his rump in the fire. Since then the rumps of moose look as if they had been burned. Rabbit’s feet were so drawn up that he could not be moose.
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Dreamtime Whispers 