Last year one of my co-workers drew a pattern for me of a Raven with the sun in his beak. This was cut out of 1/8 plate metal and blueing used to color the Raven. The sun was polished to bright silver. The pieces were all welded together and he was placed in a nice viewing place after being clear coated.
Yesterday I finally read the tale of the Raven stealing the sun from an old man who had it hidden within a box, within a box, within a box, etc. He didn't want there to be any light because he was afraid that it would show that his daughter was ugly. (ok it's a really old story).
The Raven overheard the Old Man cackling that there would never be any light because he had the sun hid so well. So the crafty Raven devised a plan and by becoming a pine needle in the girls drink, she fooled her into thinking she was pregnant and gave birth to him as a young boy.
The young boy pestered the Grandfather into giving him a box, then another box, then another box until he got the last box which contained the sun.
He transformed back into a Raven and flew out of the house with the sun in his beak. An Eagle saw him and chased him because he wanted the sun himself. The Raven flew into something and broke off half of the light which became the Moon. Later the Eagle was about to grab the Raven with his Talons and the Raven let the rest of the light go, which became the sun.
The story has a happy ending because the Father now sees that his daughter is beautiful and he becomes very proud of her.
So now I look at our Raven differently, He is bringing the light.
