From drawing loaned by the Smithsonian Institution
Kayak Man Casting a Bird Spear
Now in those days, the sun shone always very brightly. No rain ever fell and no winds blew.
Man and Raven were angry because the people killed many animals. They took a long line and a grass basket, one night, and caught ten reindeer which they put into the basket. Now in those days reindeer had sharp teeth, like dogs. The next night Raven took the reindeer and let them down on the earth close to Man’s village. Raven said, “Break down the first house you see and kill the people. Men are becoming too many.” The reindeer did as Raven commanded. They stamped on the house and broke it down. They ate up the people with their sharp, wolf-like teeth. The next night, Raven let the reindeer down; again they broke down a house and ate up the people with their sharp teeth.
The village people were much frightened. The third night they covered the third house with a mixture of deer fat and berries. On the third night when the reindeer began to tear down the third house, their mouths were filled with the fat and sour berries. Then the reindeer ran away, shaking their heads so violently that all their long, sharp teeth fell out. Ever since then reindeer have had small teeth and cannot harm people.
After the reindeer ran away, Raven and Man returned to the skyland. Man said, “If the people do not stop killing so many animals, they will kill everything you have made. It would be better to take the sun away from them. Then it will be dark and people will die.”
Raven said, “That is right. You stay here. I will go and take away the sun.”
So Raven went away and took the sun out of the sky. He put it in a skin bag and carried it far away, to a distant part of the skyland. Then it became dark on earth.
The people on earth were frightened when the sun vanished. They offered Raven presents of food and furs if he would bring back the sun. Raven said, “No.” After a while Raven felt sorry for them, so he let them have a little light. He held up the sun in one hand for two days so people could hunt and secure food. Then he put the sun in the skin bag again and the earth was dark. Then, after a long time, when the people made him many gifts, he would let them have a little light again.
Now Raven had a brother living in the village. He was sorry for the earth people. So Raven’s brother thought a long time. Then he died. The people put him in a grave box and had a burial feast. Then they left the grave box. At once Raven’s brother slipped out of the box and went away from the village. He hid his raven mask and coat in a tree. Soon Raven’s wife came for water. When she took up a dipperful to drink, Raven’s brother, by magic, became a small leaf. He fell into the water and Raven’s wife swallowed him. . . . .