Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends Part A

Raven's Creation

Illustration from Judson's Book

The first man came from inside a beach pea pod. He remained inside the pod for four days, then on the fifth, he stretched out and fell down unto the earth. He walked around and ran into Raven, a large black bird who could push his beak up and turn into a man. Raven explained that he had created the pod but did not know that a man would come out of it. Raven then fed berries and water to Man and then created several animals from clay. He shaped them carefully and told the man how plentiful they would be, he then would bat his wings four times and they would come to life. Raven then noticed that Man needed a companion, therefore he took more clay and shaped a young woman similar to Man, and use grass to add hair to her head. He let her dry fully, thus giving her a fair completion, and then batter his wings four times, bringing her to life. He then gave the young woman to Man to be his companion.

Story source: Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911).