Raven Brings the Light

by Roy Henry Vickers & Robert Budd

character-development
indigenous

In a time when darkness covered the land, a boy named Weget is born who is destined to bring the light.

With the gift of a raven's skin that allows him to fly as well as transform, Weget turns into a bird and journeys from Haida Gwaii into the sky. There he finds the Chief of the Heavens who keeps the light in a box. By transforming himself into a pine needle, clever Weget tricks the Chief and escapes with the daylight back down to Earth.

Vividly portrayed through the art of Roy Henry Vickers, Weget's story has been passed down for generations. The tale has been traced back at least 3,000 years by archeologists who have found images of Weget's journey in petroglyphs on the Nass and Skeena rivers. This version of the story originates from one told to the author by Chester Bolton, Chief of the Ravens, from the village of Kitkatla around 1975.

Contributors

Roy Henry Vickers, author

Roy Henry Vickers is a renowned carver, painter, printmaker and storyteller. He is the illustrator and co-author of Harbour Publishing’s popular children’s "First West Coast Book" series and "Northwest Coast Legends" series, the latter of which were all shortlisted for the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award: <€m>Raven Brings the Light in 2014, Cloudwalker in 2015, Orca Chief in 2016 and Peace Dancer in 2017. His other books include Storyteller (Harbour Publishing, 2014) and Voices from the Skeena (Harbour Publishing, 2019). He lives in Hazelton, BC.

Robert Budd, author

Robert (Lucky) Budd holds an MA in history and has digitized many high-profile oral history collections including that of the Nisga'a First Nation. He is the author of Voices of British Columbia (Douglas & McIntyre, 2010), a bestseller which was shortlisted for the 2011 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award, and its sequel, Echoes of British Columbia (Harbour Publishing, 2014). He currently lives in Victoria, BC.

Reviews

One of the great problems we face today is our sense of isolation and separateness from the rest of the world. Roy Henry Vickers' art constantly reminds us of the interconnectedness of everything in the world. With this magnificent book, he shows us our interdependence physically and spiritually. It is a message we have to hear. - David Suzuki

Awards

First Nation Communities READ also-recommended title (2014)
Chocolate Lily Book Award (2014)
Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award (2014)

Rights Holder

Rights Holder: Harbour Publishing

email: info@harbourpublishing.com

website: https://harbourpublishing.com/

rights available: World

Additional Information

age range: 3 - 5

number of pages: 40

publication date: 05/15/2013

Original language of pub: English

Materials Available: finished book