Miywasin Moment: Raven tales take flight across generations

By JOLYNN PARENTEAU on February 2, 2022.

ART BY YURI B. - Ravens feature in many Indigenous legends.

The days in southern Alberta are growing longer. The sun’s rays seem to stretch further across the Coulees later in the evenings, and westwind Chinooks strive to melt away the winter snow.

Far to the north, the Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest tell the legend of The Box of Daylight, how long ago the land was always in darkness.

YÃ©il, The White Raven, coveted the wealth of the great Chief, Naas-shÃ¡ki Shaan. There came a time when as YÃ©il soared through the dark sky, he spotted a woman bathing in the river. The woman was the daughter of the Chief. YÃ©il transformed himself into a spruce needle, fell into her cup, and the woman drank him with the water. The Chief’s daughter soon had a baby, who grew fast.

The great Chief provided every luxury for his only grandson. The child was most enraptured by three mystical boxes in the Chief’s safekeeping. The boy pleaded to have the boxes. The Chief could not bear to refuse his grandson anything, so he gave the child a box, with a warning.

“Do not open the lid, Grandson!” cautioned the Chief. The boy, who had his own mind, opened the box and released the stars into the sky and gazed in wonder at the lights in the Heavens.

The boy could only think of his desire for another box, and soon his Grandfather gifted him the second.

“The lid must stay shut, Grandson!” instructed the Chief. No sooner had his Grandfather left him be, the boy opened the lid, and discovered the moon. The boy played with the moon, and threw it up into the air and out the smoke hole of their lodging. The moon sailed up to take its place in the dark sky and light up the night with its glow. The boy stood in awe bathed in moonbeams that fell across the snow.

The boy wished for the last box. His tears flowed without ending until the great Chief gave his grandson the last box.

“The box must stay closed forever, Grandson!” commanded the Chief. The boy, full of mischief, opened the box and let loose the sun, which dazzled his eyes as it flew through the smoke hole into the sky.

The boy again became YÃ©il, the White Raven, and burst into the air to chase the escaped sun, but was caught in the smoke hole. His feathers turned to black for the rest of his days and for all his descendants, but the sun, moon and stars gave light to the earth forevermore.

Tlingit artist Megan Jensen narrates a version of the legend in a promotional video for Travel Yukon currently airing, while she snowshoes a great raven image in the Haida art style into the snow on a frozen lake. The extended version of this captivating short film can be found on Travel Yukon’s YouTube channel titled “Art show of winter, extended version”. It is a visual and storytelling masterpiece.

Ravens feature frequently in Indigenous storytelling. Often stories explain how Raven’s actions have influenced the world as we now know it. A Haida legend tells how Raven discovered the first humans hiding in a clam shell; he fed them salmon and berries. Another Native American legend tells how the White Raven was charmed by Man, who lived in darkness. Man asked Raven to bring fire to warm Man’s village. Raven did as Man asked, and brought the magic of fire on a branch. Raven’s white feathers grew black from the soot. Although his outer beauty was gone, blessed was Raven, who brought light to those in darkness.

MÃ©tis-Cree entrepreneur Nicole McLaren understands the power of storytelling. Founder and CEO of Raven Reads (ravenreads.org, @raven_reads on Instagram) based in Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (Kamloops, British Columbia), McLaren’s business is a champion for Indigenous publishing. Born out of a book club in 2015, Raven Reads promotes Indigenous authors and artists and supports Indigenous children’s literacy programs.

The Raven remains a symbol for progress in the world. May his story live on for many generations to come.