This Northern fable was first written in 2021, inspired by my time with the Indigenous people of Łutselkʼe, Northwest Territories, Canada. I had the privilege of teaching in this beautiful, remote community near the Arctic, where people still live closely with the land and carry a deep love for nature. It’s a story for all ages.
Snow fell like quiet prayers over the sleeping village. Inside a round tent, the air shimmered with the scent of pine smoke and stew.
A boy sat cross-legged beside his grandfather—an elder, an old hunter whose hands carried the wisdom of many winters.
The boy’s eyes gleamed in the firelight.
“Grandfather,” he said softly, “I want to be like you. Brave. Respected. Strong. Will you teach me how?”
The elder’s face creased into a knowing smile. He stirred the embers with a stick, watching sparks rise like tiny spirits.
“You want to be like me?” he asked.
“Yes,” said the boy, his voice bright with hope.
“Then your lesson begins now,” said the elder. “Go into the night and bring me as many sticks as you can. Tie them together and return.”
The boy hurried out. The cold bit at his cheeks, but his heart burned with purpose. He gathered fallen branches until his arms could hold no more, then tied them with twine and ran back into the warmth of the tent.
“Well done,” said the elder. “Now—break them.”
The boy gripped the bundle and strained. His breath came in clouds, his muscles trembled, but the sticks would not yield.
“It’s too strong!” he gasped.
The elder nodded. “Now untie the bundle,” he said, “and take one stick.”
The boy obeyed.
“Now try to break it,” said the elder.
Snap.
The stick broke cleanly.
“Another,” said the elder.
Snap.
And another.
Snap!
The boy blinked, puzzled.
The elder leaned closer, his voice gentle but firm.
“Do you see, my child?” said the elder kindly.
“When you try to break the whole bundle at once, it is too much. But if you take one stick at a time, it becomes easy.
Life works the same way. When you try to do everything at once, it can feel too heavy. But if you take it one stick—one step—at a time, even the hardest things become possible. Big dreams are built one small step at a time.
The boy looked down at the last stick in his hands, snow still melting on its bark. He smiled.
“One stick at a time,” he whispered.
“One step at a time.”
The elder’s eyes softened, reflecting the fire’s glow.
The elder’s eyes softened, glowing gently in the firelight.
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “Be patient—one stick at a time—and you’ll grow into everything you wish to be.”
The End.
Your Turn
You can try it yourself! Go outside, find a few sticks, and see what happens when you try to break a whole bundle at once — then try one stick at a time.
What’s the Moral of the Story?
Big dreams grow from small, steady steps.
You don’t have to do everything at once.
Focus, patience, and effort build real strength.
One stick at a time can make any goal possible.
Let’s Reflect
Why couldn’t the boy break the whole bundle of sticks? What happened when he tried one stick at a time?
Have you ever tried to do something big all at once and felt frustrated? How could you break it into smaller steps?
What’s one dream or goal you have? What could be your first stick to start with?
Want to see where the Northern Lights dance? Come along to the Northwest Territories
The story you just read was inspired by my time in Łutselkʼe, a remote and beautiful community in the Northwest Territories of Canada. If you’d like to explore more about the people, land, and ways to visit, here are some resources:
