Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends unit; Part A

The Raven Myth is part of Alaskan Legends unit from  Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911). The Raven Myth simply narrates the creation of the world, of human and animal.

Raven

In the Raven's Creation, Man, a first human, was created from a pea pod of the giant beach pea. He drank water from the pool and ate salmon berries and heath berries which Raven brought for him. Raven, who in turn a human like Man but appeared under Raven's shape, had wings and beak. Raven showed Man about the sheep herd that Raven was created and many other animals. Raven also formed a girl from clay so that a Man would never be alone.

Raven created the shrewmouses, the mosquitoes, and the flies so that the earth would become more cheerful. He also created babies so that there would be more human on the earth. The baby boy and baby girl were growing so fast, just three days to become a man and woman. That was how Raven created people. Raven taught them people how to hunt, gather foods, and built house.

Raven took Man to see the skyland and the sea. It appeared much different than where Man lived, much beautiful, better planet but also the most dangerous place with monsters. the Man lived there three days and turned back to his home. He saw that the home now grew into a large village with so many people. So he and Raven taught the new people things that they supposed to know to support for their life. As the population growth, people killed much more animal. Raven got angry. He ordered a reindeer to come to the village, killed people and damaged the houses. Final, he decided to limit the day by placing people in dark. That how the sun and the moon appear. In the dark, people got rest and producing no activities but sleep.