Raven Brings the Light (4 page)

After a while, Grandpa got so used to the baby playing with the Daylight Ball that he stopped watching him. One day when Weget was playing by the front door, he took the Daylight Ball and ran as fast as he could.

He didn't even look back.

He raced straight to the hole in the sky. Upon arriving, he put the Daylight Ball in the bent box and put the lid on. He quickly slipped the raven skin on and
whoosh
, he landed back on the banks of the Lisims.

Weget was tired and hungry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Weget's belly rumbled, he noticed some frog spirits fishing in the dark. They had already caught lots of fish. He called to them, “Oh, my brothers, I would like a fish. I'm so hungry. I've been working really hard.”

And the frog spirits said, “Beat it Weget. Leave us alone. Get your own fish.”

Weget thought, “That's not very nice of them. I put those fish in that river.” So he tried again, “My brothers. You are really good fishermen. All I would like is one fish.”

The frogs taunted, “Beat it Weget. Leave us alone! Get your own fish. We are busy here, you can see.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weget began to get angry. A third time he spoke, “My brothers. I put those fish in that river. You shouldn't be so greedy. Just give me one fish, that's all I want.”

But the frogs answered, “Leave us alone Weget, beat it. We are tired of you asking us.”

Weget offered the frog spirits a last chance: “Alright. My brothers, I want a fish. I'm hungry. I put those fish in that river. You can get lots of fish. If you don't give me a fish, I'm going to open this
box and let out a big, bright light and you will disappear. You will never be able to fish again. I just want one fish.”

The frogs replied, “Beat it Weget, you liar. We know how tricky you are.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon hearing these words, Weget took the top off the box.

Whoooosh
.

The Sun flew up into the sky where it brought light to the whole world. The world cast off its darkness, all the beautiful colours came out and it was hot.

A wind started to blow. It came down the river, to the ocean, and the frogs were blown to the mouth of the Lisims where they turned to stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The people on the West Coast are known as the Salmon People. Weget's efforts brought all the different kinds of salmon to our waters and our tables. Our people have been able to fish and pick berries now for thousands of years.

The fireweed that grows on the mountainsides is the first vegetable that comes to our people each spring. Before the salmonberries come, their little shoots grow every year and they are very soft. We peel the skin off them, and eat the shoots. We eat strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and so many others.

All these foods come from the seeds that were spread all over the world by Weget. They grow from the heat of the sun that clever Weget put in the sky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story in this book belongs to the people of the northwest coast. It has been passed from generation to generation for thousands of years. It's my great joy to share it with you, as it was told to me by Chester Bolton, Chief of the Ravens, from the village of Kitkatla around 1975.

—Roy Henry Vickers