In the beginning, the world was wrapped in an eternal, cold darkness. A powerful Chief lived at the head of the Nass River, hoarding the light of the universe in three nested boxes. Raven, a clever trickster tired of stumbling in the dark, decided to bring light to the world. He transformed himself into a tiny hemlock needle and fell into the water drunk by the Chief’s daughter. In time, he was born as her son, a child with coal-black hair and eyes that sparkled with mischief. The old Chief doted on his grandson, unable to refuse him anything. Raven began to cry, pointing at the boxes. First, the Chief gave him the stars, which Raven tossed through the smoke hole into the sky. Next came the moon, which he released to illuminate the night. Finally, the Chief reluctantly opened the box containing the sun. Raven snatched the glowing orb, shifted back into his bird form, and flew through the smoke hole. The soot turned his feathers permanently black, but as he released the sun into the sky, the world was finally bathed in warmth and light.
Cleverness and persistence, even when driven by trickery, can be used to bring about a greater good for all humanity.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of Raven Steals the Sun?
The moral is that wit and resourcefulness can be used to achieve monumental change, and that even flawed characters can perform selfless acts for the benefit of the world.
Why did Raven want to steal the sun?
Raven was tired of the cold, dark world where it was difficult to find food and move around, so he sought the light to improve life for himself and others.
How did Raven transform his appearance?
As a shapeshifter, Raven turned himself into a hemlock needle to be swallowed by the Chief's daughter, allowing him to be reborn as a human child within the household.
Why are ravens black according to this legend?
The legend says Raven's feathers were scorched by the soot and smoke as he escaped through the longhouse smoke hole while carrying the sun.
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Good night.
