The Fate of the Raven that Fell for the Goose

Description

‘The Fate of the Raven that Fell for the Goose’ by Ningeokuluk Teevee — Inuit Art from Cape Dorset 2023 original hand drawing collection presented by DaVic Gallery of Native Canadian Arts.

Condition:          No condition noted.

Description by Artist:     No description by artist found.

Notes from DaVic Gallery:   It is said that Raven once fell in love with a beautiful young goose girl. They stayed together all summer long, but when fall came and snow was soon to arrive, the goose girl wanted to join her relatives to fly south. Raven decided to go with her because he loved her so much and she would not stay:

“I will go too,” said the raven.

“But consider this: that none can go with us who cannot swim or rest upon the surface of the water. For there are no icebergs along the way we go.”

“It is nothing; I will sail through the air,” said the raven.

And the wild geese flew away, and the raven with them. But very soon he felt himself sinking from weariness and lack of sleep.

“Something to rest on!” cried the raven, gasping. “Sit you down side by side.” The raven asked his wife and to another goose and they sat down together on the water, while the other geese flew on.

The raven sat down on them and fell asleep. But when his wife and the other goose saw the other geese flying farther and farther away, they dropped that raven into the sea and flew off after them.

“Something to rest on!” gasped the raven, as it fell into the water. And at last it went to the bottom and was drowned.

And after a while, it broke up into little pieces, and its soul was turned into little “sea ravens.”

The blank sheet of letter-size (8.5” x 11”) paper covering part of the image in the last picture is for size reference.