The story, known as "The Theft of Fire," illustrates numerous meanings and teachings crucial to understanding Anishinaabe nationhood. This story contains two discernible points. First, it reveals how the Anishinaabe obtained fire. The second discernible feature within this story is the marking of the hare by his theft of fire. Stories shape how one sees and interacts with the world. How, when, and in which context stories are told is as telling of the people as the stories themselves. The author argues that stories can serve as a theoretical and methodological lens with which to interpret the treaty record. The historical record of Anishinaabe treaty making with the United States and Canada can not only lend insight into what was said, the promises and commitments made between the various parties, it can also shed light on the hopes and aspirations the nations had for their people. This article examines Anishinaabe articulations of their nationhood when they engaged in treaty making with the United States and Canada in the nineteenth century. Anishinaabe leaders often sought recognition and protection of their nationhood, and thus their sovereignty and land tenure, by engaging with the United States and Canada in treaty making that they hoped would guarantee their status as sovereigns and as proprietors. (Contains 70 notes.)