Elk Gifts Fire

The story of how the gift of fire came to the Shoshone people is told by Shoshone Buffalo Restoration Advocate Jason Baldes. The elk gave this gift. The Shoshone relied heavily on the animals for help. When the animals couldn’t use the fire from the elk they gifted it to the Shoshone who now use it to stay warm, cook food and to thrive. The gift of fire is a reminder of how the animals are sacred to Indigenous peoples. In the Shoshone culture, the belief is that the people are pitiful compared to animals. The animals have all the power through their gifts that help and heal the people.