The Story of Black Feather and the Raven People - An Anishnabe (Anishinabe) Legend

The Story of Black Feather and the Raven People - An Anishnabe (Anishinabe) Legend


A long time ago, in the days of our ancestors, there was a man in the village who found great happiness in gazing upon the black Raven People soaring high in the air. He would study them flying and squawking and feasting and chattering to one another. He enjoyed this so much that he would even climb up high trees just to be closer to them. The Raven People seemed to ignore the man for many months, not bothered by his presence, but keeping their distance. One day, however, while the man was high up in a large white pine, the Elder of the Raven People flew from a nearby birch tree and landed directly next to him.

Elder Raven cocked his head and the man, looking at him through eyes that showed great wisdom and curiosity at the same time. Elder Raven then spoke to the man in the man’s own tongue. “You have been following us for a long time. You climb high trees to get closer to us and you watch us for hours at a time. Why do you do this, Anish?”

Amazed that one of the Raven People could speak the Anish tongue, the man stammered back. Grandfather Raven, I mean you no harm. I have become enchanted by you and your brothers and sisters. I love to watch you soaring above the trees and squawking and playing with one another. I wish that I could learn your tongue, as you have learned mine, so that I may learn even more about your people.

Then the Raven responded, "We are very honoured that you want to know us so. As long as you do not cause harm, we will teach you our language and our ways."

For many months the Raven People taught the man all about the language and how the Ravens lived from day to day. The man became so educated that he knew everything there was to know about them. Many of the Raven People saw the man and accepted him as a friend.

One day, one of the Ravens was flying far over the man, dropped a walnut perfectly on the man's head. It was done on purpose and all the Raven People almost fell off their branches laughing so hard the way they do. Elder Raven was flying and was laughing so hard he had to crash land right in front of the man.

The man was feeling bad and was hurt by being made fun of, so he asked Elder Raven in front of him, "Why are you all picking on me."

Elder Raven stopped laughing and became very serious. "We thought you understood us, but apparently you do not. If you did you would know that we are not mocking you. Well, maybe a bit, but it is done in our way of having fun. We are 'playing' with you and that is all. It is not to be taken seriously. You should know us better."

The man took sometime to understand this and over time a few more practical jokes were played on the man and he in turn pulled a few "good ones" on the birds. A good time was had by all and the man became even closer to the Raven People.

Then another event occurred. A young Raven swooped out of the sky and pecked the man on the head. Then another young Raven swooped down and did the same thing. The man ran across the field and into the woods but the Raven People kept chasing him and very skilfully they flew at high speeds through the woods tormenting the man. Finally the two stopped and started to yell mean words, fighting words, at the man.

Again the man did not understand, but he knew the two Raven People were very mad at him, so he decided to leave and let the Raven People be. The man went away for many months.

As he did his duties in his tribal village, he told all the people about his adventures and what he learned about the Raven People. Some listened with intent; others just thought the man was a fool to study the Raven People so. The villagers gave the man the new name of "Black Feather" because of his close relationship to the birds, but the man objected and said, "I am no longer close to the Raven people." It did not matter, how ever much he objected, though. From that day onwards, he was known as “Black Feather”.

One day, after many months of the man being away from the from the Raven People, from above there was a squawking sound of a single Raven. Some of the people looked up and were surprised that they too could understand the Raven, others just looked around because they could hear nothing but squawking. It was Elder Raven, and as he flew over the village, Elder Raven was speaking to the man and said, "It is true, you are closer to us than any Anishinabe has ever come. You are close, but you still don't understand us fully. I invite you to return to us, many miss you."

Black Feather started to follow Elder Raven but then stopped at the edge of the village. He looked around to make sure no other Anishinabe could hear then asked the Raven, "why do you ask me back when the two Raven People where fighting with me and were mean."

"The Raven landed at Black Feathers feet and said, "See how little you understand us. The two young Raven People did not fight with you because you are Anishinabe; it is because they accepted you as a member of the Raven People. You should know that we fight among ourselves too. It is a part of our way of life. Instead of sulking and leaving you should have fought back."

Black Feather stood in silence and said, "There is much about Raven People I don't understand. Maybe we are too different people to ever understand each other. I should stop and return to my people in the village."

The Raven again shook his head and told Black Feather, "That is your choice, but again I tell you that you have come closer to us Raven people than any other Anishinabe. Would you throw this all away just because you can't understand us yet?"

Black Feather responded, "It's useless, how can I ever understand you, I can't even fly!"

A thousand bursts of laughter was heard from all the surrounding trees and Black Feather knew that all the Raven People were there, hiding and watching and listening.

"Of course you can't fly. You are Anishinabe and we are Raven People. But we accept you as one of us. We play with you. We fight with you. We love you and want you back. We also recommend you don't try to fly in order to be like us, because then, you would not be Anishinabe nor a Raven but something else. We like you as an Anishinabe that understands us as Raven People. Join us or not the decision is yours."

Black Feather returned to the Anishinabe village and bid everyone farewell because he had decided to live with the Raven People. After all the farewells and such he started to leave the village. All the Anishinabe people were there to see him off, and high over head was a thousand Ravens.

Then from high above, Elder Raven dropped a walnut shell and again with remarkable aim, plunked Black Feather right on the head. All the Raven People started laughing hard and all the Anishinabe were laughing too.

Black Feather laughed and looked up at the old Raven and said, "Good one, Grandfather."


(This is an old Anish legend, retold many ways and many times. This is merely my retelling of it, as it was told to me by another. As such, I hold no rights or claims to it, other than it is a tale of a few of the ancestors of my father’s father.)