The owl and the raven were close friends who exchanged gifts—a dress for the owl and boots for the raven. When the owl tried to fit the raven with a white dress, the raven’s restless hopping led to the owl’s anger. In frustration, the owl poured oil over the raven, turning it black forever. The raven’s cry, “Qaq! Qaq!” marked the moment.
Source:
The Central Eskimo
by Franz Boas
[Bureau of American Ethnology]
Sixth Annual Report
Washington, 1888
► Themes of the story
Transformation: The tale explains the physical change in the raven’s appearance from white to black feathers.
Trickster: The raven’s restless behavior and the resulting transformation align with the trickster archetype common in many myths.
Origin of Things: This story provides an explanation for the natural phenomenon of the raven’s black coloration.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Inuit peoples
The owl and the raven were fast friends. One day the raven made a new dress, dappled white and black, for the owl, who in return made a pair of boots of whalebone for the raven and then began to make a white dress. But when he was about to try it on, the raven kept hopping about and would not sit still.
The owl got angry and said: “Now sit still or I shall pour out the lamp over you.” As the raven continued hopping about, the owl fell into a passion and poured the oil upon it. Then the raven cried “Qaq! Qaq!” and since that day has been black all over.
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Dreamtime Whispers 