SHADOWS OF THE THUNDERBIRD: raven

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249. Swityk Raven Totem

Compact Raven sculpture, 3" high, black resin with white highlights.

Similar in form to Boma Chesspiece Raven No. 169.

See also 222. 161 and 160 for other Swityk of Canada pieces

230. Danny Joseph Carved Raven

Hand carved sculpture of 'Raven' by Danny Joseph.

Signed on the base, but with name obscured at some point. Name still visible beneath marker pen, after cleaning.

Danny Joseph of Kwakiutl tribe, also created item No. 205.

228. Quaker Sgt Preston Mail Away Totem Set

A set of five clay composite poles, hand painted and varnished, given away in 1952 as a mail away premium with Quaker Puffed Wheat and Rice, in association with the popular tv series Sgt Preston of the Yukon.

Although not specifically mentioned in connection with the series, each of the poles are based on actual monuments in the area.

The original mailer includes the card insert and instruction leaflet, with a brief description of each pole.

THUNDERBIRD

Thunderbird sits atop a Beaver representing the Basket Bay Tlingit Clan and the marriage between them and the Kata clan, shown by the Bear on the lowest position.

THE FIGHT WITH
THE LAND OTTERS

This totem represents two legends, a fight between Raven and a Bullhead fish and the abduction of four boys by a tribe of Otters and the subsequent fight to rescue them.

BURIAL (MORTUARY) POLE

This type of pole contained the remnants of a high status persons burial. This one contained the bones and ashes of Chief Ske-Dans of Skidegate on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The rectangular header contains a mortuary box to hold the remains. The Moon is the chiefs personal emblem, the Mountain Goat his mothers and the Grizzly Bear at the base, his fathers tribe.

KILLER WHALE

This is the totem of the Tongas Tribe, showing Raven, Beaver, Boy, Sea Lion and Whale at the base.

SUN & RAVEN

This pole shows the exploits of Raven and includes the Sun motif, Children of the Sun, Fog Woman, Raven and Bullfrog.

The Sun & Raven pole is also featured in the Nabisco Rin Tin Tin premium set from 1958 - See post No.197 for further information.

SUN & RAVEN POLE - SAXMAN PARK B.C

222. Swityk Tundra Raven Pair

Five inch ceramic totems, made by Swityk. Advertised as bookends, but probably just two separate items. One has cream coloured finish like similar Swityk designs (See 161, 160). Second version has brilliant white finish, possibly retouched.

Cast from resin with white painted finish, mass market tourist items.

Both show stylised Raven character bearing the salmon to human kind.

https://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/2018/04/04/haida-tales-raven-and-the-coming-of-the-salmon/

206. Pearlite Raven Jar

Resin based jar with lid. 4" diameter, possibly made by Pearlite, due to the similarity if colour and design, to various totems.

Lid features a recumbent Raven figure, floating on his back, surrounded by sea monsters or whales on the sides.

See no.s 88, 89 for similar style

199. Vic Yeoda Wooden Totem 'Raven's Deal'

Alaska Black Diamond. Six inch hand carved and painted cedar model Representing two ravens, with the face of a shaman on the chest of the upper figure. Made in Alaska sticker and signed 'Vic Yeoda' See number 179. Entitled 'Raven's Deal'

RAVENS DEAL

Two Ravens appeared before the tribal council to discuss the lack of salmon in the streams. The wise men suspected that one of the Ravens was different

This Raven was actually a Shaman, who had transformed himself into his bird form to find out where the Ravens had hidden the salmon from the streams.

Ravens enjoyed playing tricks on the humans, but this time the old Shaman was smart. He flew with Raven this spring morning, watching him divert the salmon away from the streams, back to sea. A mischievous deed he had made with the Killer Whales so they could have more than their share of fish to eat.

That same night, as Raven's eyes became heavy with sleep, the Shaman turned himself back into his Raven form and flew back over the open ocean to cast a spell on the salmon, making them swim back to the streams, double crossing the deal the Trickster Raven had made with the Killer Whales.

To this day, each spring and fall, the Raven and the Shaman play this game. That is why the salmon return to the streams and this why Ravens do not land on the salt water, where Killer Whale awaits him.