We found a couple of different versions of a Native American story about the Raven stealing the sun. Since we did a post on the White Crow a couple of weeks ago, we thought we would first share the version of the White Raven from the Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest.
Accordingly, this is an old tale from the Queen Charlotte Islands on how Raven brought the sun, moon, stars, fresh water and fire to the world.
The story goes that when the world was created, Gray Eagle was the guardian of the sun, moon, stars, fresh water, and fire. Unfortunately, Gray Eagle hated people. His hatred towards them was so deep that he kept his possessions hidden and the people were forced to live in darkness without fresh water or fire.
Gray Eagle also had a beautiful daughter and upon seeing her, Raven fell in love with her. Raven was a handsome snow-white bird and Gray Eagle’s daughter was quite smitten by him. Thus, she invited him to her father’s longhouse.
Upon reaching the lodge, Raven noticed the sun, moon, stars and fresh water hanging from its sides. He knew right away that these resources needed to be shared with the people. As soon as no one was looking he snatched these things as well as a brand of fire from Gray Eagle’s house. When he reached the sky, he placed the sun there and when the sun set, he positioned the moon and then scattered the stars. Afterwards, he kept on flying, still carrying with him the fresh water and brand of fire.
When he saw just the right place on land, he poured out all the water he had stolen. The water fell to the ground becoming fresh-water streams and lakes. As Raven flew on the smoke from the brand of fire he held in his bill blew on his white feathers making them black. Then the fire he held began to burn his bill causing him to drop the firebrand. It landed on the rocks and hid itself within them. That is why, if two stones are struck together, sparks of fire will fly out.
Raven’s feathers remained black from the smoke of the firebrand making the ebony bird we know today.
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