THE CHILDHOOD
OF RAVEN
All versions of the myth feature Raven as
a demanding child, with an indulgent
grandfather who lets him play with his
secret sources of light. Some accounts
narrate how Raven waited impatiently to
resume his true form, and when he saw
the family busy feasting, he grabbed his
chance. Transforming back into a bird,
he snatched the ball of light and flew
away. In another variation, the stars were
hidden in a bag. Raven, who still had his
sharp beak, pecked through the bag,
letting the stars out to light up the sky.
RAVEN AND CREATION
For many tribes of North America such as the Haida, Raven is a
creator entity. One story describes how Raven flew over the ocean
carrying pebbles in his beak. With these pebbles he made the stars
and planets. Then he beat his wings to make a great wind that blew
river beds and valleys into existence, building mountains at the same
time. The ground was fertilized by his droppings. Finally, Raven either
created the first humans or watched them emerge into the world.SEEKERS OF FIRE
A story from the Queen Charlotte Islands, on the Canadian coast, tells
how Raven was once white. He befriended the daughter of Chief Grey
Eagle – the guardian of the sun, moon, and fire – and stole his precious
hoard. He flew around the sky, putting the sun and moon in place,
while carrying a brand of fire in his beak. The smoke blackened his
feathers, and when the fire grew too hot, Raven dropped it on some
rocks. This is why fire appears when two rocks are struck together.
THE GIVER OF LIFE
Like Raven, diferent animals and birds play a role in human destiny.
They are linked with life and death, which are represented by objects
that float or sink when dropped into water. In a version told by the
Tlingit people, the fox, who is an ancestor figure, drops some
sticks of rhubarb into the sea. The rhubarb floats, and
the fox takes this as a sign that humanity will live.Sky chief
Raven’s grandfather, the old sky chief, was an
ambiguous figure. He guarded the sources of light
jealously, but let his grandson play with them.Kelp
After giving light to the world,
Raven descended to the ocean
floor on a ladder made of kelp.
He found the sea creatures
to be similar to those on land.The first people
In one Haida myth, Raven saw the first
humans cowering in a giant clam. With his
smooth talking, he cajoled them to emerge.Fishing net floats
Raven taught the first people
how to hunt and fish. Later,
they learned to use net
floats like these for fishing.Robin
The North American robin was yet another bird
associated with the bringing of fire, carrying
evidence of the bright flames on its red breast.Fox
Being well-disposed towards
humans, the fox hoped that the
sticks of rhubarb would float,
signifying that humanity would live.Buzzard
A North American myth tells of a buzzard
who threw a rock in the sea; it washed
ashore after sinking, making life possible.Mole
The mole was one of the
creatures who failed to
find or steal fire in some
North American myths.RAVEN STEALS THE LIGHTTRICKSTER RAVEN
COAXED THE CREATURES
TO COME OUT. THESE
LITTLE DWELLERS WERE
THE ORIGINAL HAIDA.141