Raven's Barbecue

How Raven Killed The Whale

Jonah and the Whale

Everyone knows the story of Jonah and the Whale. There are also stories from the Yankee whaling days of unfortunate whalers being mauled by a whale. No one willingly enters a whale mouth...except the clever Raven.

Raven is a "trickster" in Native American stories. He's sometimes a hero, a troublemaker, a glutton, a buffoon, a destroyer or a creator. He is creative force, transforming the world, sometimes in bizarre and outrageous ways. In nature the raven scavenges for food and because of this he represents our most basic instincts. 

This print was created to illustrate The Story of How the Raven Ate The Whale. This story is told in different ways by different groups.  

As usual Raven was hungry. He had heard of a large whale near an island and so he went to see it for himself. Raven flew to the place and watched the whale for three days hoping to think of a way to trick it. You see, the smart bird knew that he would have lots of meat. Finally, an idea came to him and he walked up close to the whale who was resting near shore.
   

"Please come closer, Cousin Whale, so that I may speak with you," requested Raven. Whale opened his eyes and slowly swam up to the small black bird and asked what he wanted.
"I have come to tell you that we are cousins," responded the trickster.

"That is impossible! You are a bird and I am a whale. We cannot be relatives," said the great whale. "Oh," said Raven, "it is true and I can prove it to you.If you open your mouth," said Raven, "I will show you how our throats are the same shape, which proves that we are cousins."

Although the giant whale was not completely satisfied, he was slowly opening his mouth for Raven. When the creature's mouth was open far enough, Raven ran into his mouth and down his throat. He was wearing a backpack with his knife and some firewood in it, and once inside he cut meat from the whale and cooked it over a small fire.

Once inside the whale, the Raven leisurely eats the whale bit by bit.

In this instance Raven is both a trickster and glutton.

RAVEN'S BARBECUE  Etching. Black , Blue Black  or 

Brown Ink.  5 x 7 inch 2010-12 $

RAVEN'S BARBECUE, Acrylic with gold leaf, 60" x 40 " 2021 $3500