The Kaska people have a tale featuring Raven as a transformer and trickster. This narrative includes episodes where Raven defecates and consults his excrement for guidance, and another where he sends his penis across a river, which then enters a girl. Muskrat advises, “Cut it with grass!” These elements suggest possible influences from neighboring cultures, such as the Tahltan and Cree.
Source:
Kaska Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.30, No.118, pp. 427-473
October-December, 1917
► Themes of the story
Trickster: Raven embodies the archetype of a cunning figure using wit to outsmart others.
Transformation: As a transformer, Raven undergoes or instigates physical, emotional, or spiritual changes.
Supernatural Beings: Interactions with spirits, gods, or monsters are evident in Raven’s tales.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Kaska people
The Kaska have a story of Raven, who acts as a transformer and trickster. The story is not well known to most of them, and may have been borrowed, at least in part, from the Tahltan. My informant would not attempt the telling of this story, as he said he did not know it well enough, and none of the other Kaska who happened to be at hand knew it any better. Among the incidents are those of Raven defecating and asking his excrements for information, and of Raven sending his penis across a river, where it enters a girl. Muskrat called out, “Cut it with grass!” Adsit thinks this incident may have been borrowed from the Cree, who have a story of the culture-hero getting Muskrat to swim across a river with his penis, which then enters a girl. The latter gets sick, and Muskrat calls out to cut it with grass.
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