Long ago, the world was cloaked in darkness. There was no sun, no moon, and no stars. People stumbled in the shadows, birds flew blindly, and the seas were black and cold. But Raven—clever, curious, and always hungry for something new—could not bear this darkness any longer.

Raven was not always black. In those days, he was white as snow, a shining figure with shimmering feathers. But what he wanted most was light, and he had heard an old story whispered on the wind: a powerful Chief lived at the head of the Nass River, and he possessed a treasure. A box. Within that box was another box. And inside that—the sun itself.

So Raven transformed himself into a spruce needle and drifted downstream. The Chief’s daughter came to the water to drink. As she sipped, she swallowed the spruce needle. Time passed, and she grew round with child. Eventually, she gave birth—to Raven, in human form.

The Chief loved his strange little grandson and gave him anything he cried for. Over time, Raven, still a child, begged and pleaded to play with the sacred boxes. Finally, he held the innermost one—small, sealed, glowing faintly. When no one was watching, Raven opened it—and in a flash of brilliance, light spilled out! The sun shot upward into the sky, climbing high above the world.

Raven, transformed once more into his bird form, flew after it, carrying what he could. The light scorched his white feathers, turning them black as soot. And ever since, Raven has been black.

From then on, the world had sunlight. And although Raven is a trickster, his deed gave the people warmth, vision, and the rhythm of day and night.

Cultural Note:

This tale of Raven Stealing the Light is found among many Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, including the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian, though each has its own version. Among the Tlingit, Raven is often portrayed as both creator and trickster—a being who brings gifts to the world, even if through selfish or mischievous acts. His story is a deep part of ceremonial and clan knowledge, and in some contexts, only certain people may tell it.

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