Raven Brings the Sun
The Story
Long, long ago, before our ancestors walked the Earth, the
weather was always warm and the animals lived in happiness. Then,
one day, the Earth suddenly became cold, and white, sparkling flakes fell
from the sky, covering the Earth with its white softness. The animals,
seeing snow for the first time, were not afraid.
Soon, the snow grew deeper and Mouse disappeared. All that
could be seen was the tip of his tail, and the other animals began to get
worried.
Then Rabbit disappeared. All that could be seen were the
tips of his ears, and by now the rest of the animals were really worried.
So the animals met in Council, gathering together in a clearing deep in
the forest, to discuss the situation. They decided that what was needed
was for a messenger to travel up to the home of Great Spirit, the Creator,
and ask him to stop the snow. They asked among themselves, "Who is
willing to make such a long journey to that distant dwelling place of the
Creator?"
Opossum said, "Owl, is the wisest. Perhaps he should
be the on to go." "But no," the animals whispered. "He
might get lost in the light of day. So Owl shouldn't go!"
Then Beaver said, "Perhaps Raccoon should go."
"No!" the animals argued. "He might follow his tail instead
of his nose. So Raccoon should not go."
Then Skunk said, "Perhaps Coyote, should go."
"No!" the animals shouted. "Coyote is clever and loves to
play tricks. He might chase the clouds or swallow the wind. So Coyote
should not go."
Then the animals made all kinds of noise. They screeched
and howled, hooted and growled, because they couldn't decide who should
make the journey to the dwelling place of the Creator and ask him to stop
the snow.
In the meantime, the snow got deeper and deeper. The small
animals climbed on top of the taller animals so they wouldn't disappear.
Just as the animals were in their greatest despair, from
the top of a tall tree, Raven flew down among them. In the sweetest voice
they had ever heard from a bird, Raven said, "I will go!"
The animals were so happy to have a messenger that they
sang many songs of praise to him.
Then Raven flew high into the sky, above the snow and the
winds, beyond the clouds, the moon and the stars.
For three days he flew, until at last he arrived at the
dwelling place of the Creator; but the Creator was too busy to notice him.
So Raven began to sing. Upon hearing the singing, the Creator stopped to
listen. Never before had he heard such a sweet voice singing or such a
beautiful song. Upon seeing Raven, the Creator said, "Such a gift of
song as you have given to me, I now give a gift to you. Tell me what you
choose to have." Raven knew that far below, on the Earth, the snow
was getting so deep that soon all the animals would disappear. So he asked
the Creator to stop the snow.
The Creator replied, "No, Raven, I cannot stop the
snow, for the snow has a Spirit of its own. When the Snow Spirit leaves
the clouds to visit with his friend, the Wind Spirit, the snow will stop,
but Earth still will be cold."
So Raven asked the Creator to stop the cold, but the
Creator said, "No, Raven. I cannot stop the cold. All I can do
is give you the gift of fire. Fire will keep you warm and will melt the
snow so that your friends will be content until warm weather
returns."
The Creator picked up a stick, and set it on fire by
sticking it into the Sun. Then he handed it to Raven, saying, "I will
give you this gift only once. Now hurry! Fly back to the Earth before the
fire goes out!"
Off flew Raven.
On the first day, as he was flying down to Earth, sparks
from the fire burnt and darkened his tail feathers.
On the second day, the fire burned brighter and the stick
grew shorter, all of Raven's feathers became blackened with soot.
On the third day, the stick of fire was so short, and the
fire so hot that smoke and ash blew into his mouth, and his voice became
cracked and hoarse. "Caw, caw," he croaked.
Upon returning to the clearing in the forest where Raven
had left the other animals, they were nowhere to be seen. Only the tops of
the tallest trees were above the snow. So, Raven flew down close to the
snow, and around and around he went until the fire had melted the snow and
his animal friends were safe.
The stick of fire that Raven had brought to Earth as a
gift from the Creator, became grandfather of all fires, and for this all
the animals gave thanks to him. They danced and sang songs praising Raven.
But Raven flew alone to a distant tree, where he wept. For
now he was no longer beautiful, and could no longer sing sweet songs. His
rainbow-colored feathers were gone forever.
When the Snow Spirit emptied the clouds and joined the
Wind Spirit, the snow stopped. Crow was still weeping. No longer was he
beautiful.
Now the Creator heard Raven in his despair and came down
from the sky. When he saw Raven he said, "Soon man will appear on the
Earth. He will take the fire and be master of all but you. For being so
brave and unselfish, I now give you the gift of freedom. Man will never
hurt you, for your meat tastes like fire and smoke. Man will never capture
you, for your beautiful voice is now crackly and hoarse. Man will never
value your feathers, because your rainbow colors are now black. But your
black feathers will shine and reflect all the colors. If you look closely
you will see."
Raven looked, and he saw many tiny rainbows shining in his
black feathers, and so he was satisfied.
The Creator returned to his dwelling far above the sky,
and Raven returned to his friends in the forest, happy and proud that he
was now just a black bird, with shining feathers full of tiny rainbows.
Adapted from: The Grandfathers Speak by Hětakonanu'laxk
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