When the world was young and people few and the animals could speak to each other, the People known as the Tsimshin lived on the upper Skeena River near the land we call Alaska. They were clever and strong and they hunted the creatures that shared their land. The Tsimshin were such skillful hunters that the animals grew to fear them greatly. Worried about the future of his own people and all the animals, Grizzly Bear invited the large animals to meet to decide what to do about the People.

In those days, Bear kept no den and so the large animals gathered at the edge of the forest. Grizzly Bear stood on his hind legs, raised a massive paw to gain the attention of the assembled animals, and spoke.

"My fellows creatures," he growled, "we all understand the need to hunt. But the Tsimshin are too skillful. We all suffer at their hands. I have called you together so we can decide how to save ourselves. And since I have called this assembly, I will offer my own suggestion.

"I say we ask Him Who Made Us to give us more winter. We will ask for bitter, killing cold that lasts the whole year, for snow so deep the hunters cannot travel. That way, the Tsimshin will stay home to keep warm. We will be safe."

An approving rumble went through the assembled animals.

"Agreed!" howled Wolf. "An excellent plan, friend Bear. But, may I add a thought?"

Grizzly Bear nodded. "Please speak, friend Wolf."

"I believe we should invite the smaller creatures to join us in this request. Let us have Porcupine and Marten and Beaver and Raccoon and Mink, and even the insects and the mice, join us. He Who Made Us made them too, and their voices will support ours. We will all ask Him Who Made Us to make our winters longer and harder. Our strength will be greater, our argument and request even stronger."

Another approving rumble went through the crowd of large animals. Grizzly Bear agreed this was a fine idea. Soon the call went out to all the creatures of the forest. They would meet at dawn near the foot of the brightest maple, and there they would discuss their plan.

The next day, the animals gathered beneath the glowing crimson leaves of the largest, brightest, reddest maple tree in the forest. Thousands gathered there - the small animals on one side of the forest floor, the larger on the other. All were amazed at their numbers. Mice saluted Panthers, Wolf and Black Bear stood with Elk and Reindeer, and Wolverine hailed the insects and butterflies, the snails and snakes and all the birds who drifted down from the skies.

Grizzly Bear rose again. "Friends," he said, "the Tsimshin are the greatest of hunters. They never give us rest. Deer," - he turned to look upon the herd of nearby deer - "you spend your life on the run. And Geese, where can you rest?"

The animals growled, honked, lowed, squeaked, nodded to each other.

"My smaller brothers, we large animals have decided we must ask Him Who Made Us to give us cold, harsh winters. We will ask Him to create winters colder than ever we imagined, with deep snows, icy winds. With such cold winters, the People will not leave their homes, and we will live in peace."

More mewing, huffing, grunting as the animals thought this over and agreed with Bear.

"This is a wise idea," said Panther.

"Yes," said the other large animals, nodding to each other. "It is wise."

Grizzly Bear bowed to his fellow creatures, acknowledging their praise. Bear turned to the side of the maple where sat the smaller animals. "And now," said Bear, "we ask you, our smaller, brothers, what you think of our plan. Will you join your voices with ours to ask for this winter?"

Bear and the large animals waited patiently for the answer. The small creatures whispered to each other, many looking nervously over their shoulders at the large animals. The smaller creatures looked at the bright blue sky, the dazzling sun, the glowing crimson leaves of the maple where they met. A golden haze hung over the lush valley that spread out before them. Some chewed a few blades of tender grass, some sniffed the sweet scents of the late summer air, and many wished they could bring themselves to speak.

Silence fell over the assembly. Rustling through fallen maple leaves, Porcupine shuffled through the crowd to where Grizzly Bear stood. He climbed a nearby tree stump, took a deep breath and turned to face the assembly. The larger animals smiled patiently back at Porcupine, and waited for him to voice his support for the plan. They were disappointed.

"Your idea is good for you," said Porcupine. "Look at yourselves. You're large. You have warm fur. You can live in comfort in the deep cold. You can live.

"But look at us." Porcupine waved a stumpy foreleg at the small creatures that sat and fluttered about him. "Look at the tiny insects. They have no fur at all. Mine is short, as is Beaver's and Marten's. Think of the birds. I say we should not ask for more cold. We should praise Him Who Created Us for all that we have."

There were many twitters and scratches as the smaller animals chorused their support of Porcupine.

Grizzly Bear growled deeply. "We large animals have already discussed this matter and are agreed. We need more cold and snow to save ourselves. We think it is a very wise idea."

"Very wise," rumbled Panther.

Supporting growls rolled through the ranks of the large animals.

Porcupine raised a paw. "Stop and think," said Porcupine. Again the forest fell silent. "If bitter cold comes to our earth, the roots of the wild berries will freeze and die. Plants will wither and fade. There will be no roots, no grasses, no tender leaves hidden under the snow. You will roam the forests and the mountains in search of food, but there will be none. You will starve. We small creatures can live on the gum and bark of our trees, but without the berries and leaves and plants, you large animals will survive only by hunting and killing we smaller animals.

"There are reasons He Who Made Us made us as we are, and made the winter as it is. To ask for ever-lasting cold is not a wise idea. It will stop the Tsimshin from hunting us, but we will all die."

Porcupine paused to let them consider his speech. "To prove that I am brave and wise," he continued, "to prove you should give a thoughtful ear to my speech, I will bite off my thumb." With that, Porcupine bit off this thumb and tossed it to the animals. Forever afterward, Porcupine has had only four fingers and no thumb. Then, hurt and angry with the large animals, Porcupine climbed off the stump and sat on the ground, staring hard at Grizzly Bear.

The large animals sat speechless. They thought of the bitter cold that could destroy their berries and plants. Some resented Porcupine speaking to them this way, but even they marvelled at his strength and bravery.

At last Grizzly Bear, speaker for the large animals, rose again. "You are right, Porcupine." Bear turned to face the large animals. "I believe Porcupine is wise and brave," said Grizzly Bear. "He speaks wisely and he is correct. An ever-lasting winter would destroy us, not save us."

"Let us make brother Porcupine the First of the Small Animals," said Panther. "Let him be ever a speaker when the large animals assemble."

All the animals, large and small, rose to their feet in approval. The mice applauded wildly, the bees buzzed their support, and all the insects and animals, large and small, danced to celebrate the wisdom of Porcupine who had saved them from their own folly.

"Yes," said Grizzly Bear, "Porcupine shall be a wise and important part of our assemblies. As for our problem with the People, we still must control them to save ourselves. Let us compromise. Let us ask Him Who Made Us for six months for winter and six for summer."

Porcupine looked up at his friends. "I thank you, my fellow animals. Grizzly Bear speaks wisely. We should ask to divide the year this way. In winter we will have cold and snow, harsh winds and ice. The People will stay in their homes, and they will build no new homes in the forest. In spring we will have showers, and the plants that withered will grow green again. Summer will bring warmth, the plants will bloom, the fish will swim upriver and all shall have plenty. When autumn comes, the leaves will drop and rain will fall. Rivers will overflow, and the animals who walk the forest floor will know to prepare, eat heavily and move into their dens to hide for the winter months. And we will live together, happily."

All the animals agreed this was a wise plan. Together they made their petition and received the blessing of Him Who Made Them. That is why the wild animals, large and small, move to their dens when the cold of winter comes. They know when winter is near, how to prepare for it, what they need to survive, how to hide from the killing cold.

All, that is, but Porcupine. He does not hide. He travels the forest all year round, visiting his neighbors, insuring that none disobey the wisdom of the wild animals or the plan of Him Who Made Them. Anyone who speaks boldly to him will be unhappy, for when they do, Porcupine will strike them with the quills of his tail. This is why the animals fear Porcupine, but cherish the seasons, the world in which they live and Him Who Made Them.