Why Raven’s Beak Is Curved
A Northwest Coast Indian Legend

Raven stars in many stories from Northwest Coast tribes. According to some stories, Raven brought the Sun to the world and salmon to the Northwest.

But Raven is also a greedy practical joker. Though a powerful flier and strong fisherman, Raven is lazy. He would rather get food from other animals through trickery than hunt for his own. And if he can stir up some trouble at the same time, that’s fine with him!

Not all Raven’s practical jokes go his way. Sometimes they backfire, and once he almost lost something very important to him, as you will see in this story.

One day as Raven walked by the sea, he saw an old man, bent and wrinkled, paddling a canoe. Raven watched the old man cast out his fishing line.

I think I’ll have some fun, said Raven, laughing to himself. I’ll tug the line and make the old man think he has caught a great fish.

Diving into the water, Raven took the fish bait into his beak and gave a gentle tug, like the nibbling of a great fish before it strikes. The old man sat very still.

Again, Raven tugged gently at the line. This time the old man was certain that a great fish was nibbling his bait. Holding his line steady, he reached for his net.

Raven chuckled to himself. Then swiftly and powerfully he pulled at the line, sure he could jerk it from the old man’s hands.

But the old man was strong and hungry. He wanted the great fish. He leaned back, trying to bring the fish to the net.

Back and forth they pulled. The water around the canoe churned, white with waves.

Raven decided that this was becoming too much like work, so he opened his mouth to let the line free. But the hook was stuck in Raven’s beak! Raven could not get loose!

Frightened, Raven pulled hard on the line, but still he could not break free. Slowly, Raven’s beak began to bend under, curving more with each pull.

Suddenly, Raven’s beak popped off. It flew through the air and landed ka-chonk in the canoe. The old man was very surprised. He picked it up, turning it over and over. He had never seen anything like it before.

Embarrassed, Raven called to the man, keeping out of sight behind a tree. “Old man, you have my beak. Give it back to me.”

The old man started to laugh. “So this is a beak," he said. “Come out—I have to be sure it is really yours.”

Raven protested, but the old man would not give in.

When he saw Raven, the old man shook his fist at him. “Why did you take my bait?” he cried. “I am hungry, and now I cannot catch a fish. I shall eat your beak instead.”

“Oh no,” cried Raven. “Please do not do that! I will fish for you.”

The old man nodded slowly. Raven caught many fish and gave them to the old man. When the old man was satisfied, he held out the beak. Raven snatched it and flew home.

Raven tried to hammer out the beak’s curve, but he never got it completely straight. And ever since then, Raven has had a curved beak.