Eskimo story of Owl and Raven

An Eskimo Legend

Owl and Raven were close friends. One day Raven made a new dress, dappled black and white, for Owl. Owl, in return, made for Raven a pair of Whale-bone boots and then began to make for her a white dress. When Owl wanted to fit the dress, Raven hopped about and would not sit still. Owl became very angry and said, “If I fly over you with a blubber lamp, don’t jump.” Raven continued to hop about. At last Owl became very angry and emptied the blubber lamp over the new white dress. Raven cried, “Qaq! Qaq!” Ever since that day Raven has been black all over.