The owl and the raven quarreled, leading to the owl tipping a lamp over the raven, covering him in soot. Ashamed, the raven flew away, crying “kaq, kaq.” This explains why ravens are black in this tale.
Source:
The Labrador Eskimo
by E.W. Hawkes
[Canada, Department of Mines]
Geological Survey, Memoir 91
Anthropological Series no. 14
Ottawa, 1916
► Themes of the story
Origin of Things: The tale provides an explanation for the raven’s black coloration.
Conflict with Nature: The quarrel between the owl and the raven represents a struggle between natural creatures.
Cunning and Deception: The owl’s act of tipping the lamp over the raven involves a deceptive action leading to the raven’s transformation.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Inuit peoples
Once the owl and the raven had a quarrel.
The owl became angry and tipped a lamp over the raven.
He was completely covered with soot.
He was very much ashamed, and flew off, crying, “kaq, kaq.”
That is why he is black.
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Dreamtime Whispers 