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Tsimshian mythology is the mythology of theTsimshian, anAboriginal people in Canada and aNative American tribe in theUnited States. The majority of Tsimshian people live inBritish Columbia, while others live inAlaska.[citation needed]
Tsmishian myth is known from orally-passed tales. Anadaawx(or true tellings) is a story concerning animal spirits in human guise and is usually linked to the origin of the Earth and the peoples on it. Amalesk, in contrast, is an adventure or history tale that purports to entertain rather than explain.
TheRaven spirit is known asWe-gyet orTxamsem.[1] Txamsem is said to have a brother namedLogobola who is responsible for the lack of fresh and clear water as well as the existence of the fog into which Txamsem became lost.
The Raven, known as Txamsem or Giant, is a central figure in Tsimshian mythology, part of theRaven Tales mythology connecting theindigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. The Raven is viewed as the creator of the universe and an intermediary between its physical and spiritual incarnations.[2]: 160
Tsimshian creation myth presupposes a dark and still universe populated by a variety of animal spirits.[2]: 165 An animal chief pampers his son, causing him to fall sick and die, and his intestines are burned. The next day a new youth appears in the bed,healthy and visible in the darkness, "bright as fire." The boy is adopted by the chief. Initially, this boy does not eat, but slave spirits trick him into eating scabs. This triggers an enormous appetite in the boy, who begins to eat so much that the chief and villagers send him away with a raven blanket. The boy leaves, and becomes Raven.[2]: 165
As Raven arrives in the mainland, he is insatiably hungry, causing great disruptions to those he meets. At various points of the myth he serves as atrickster.[2]: 171 For example, after creating a slave from rotted wood, he disguises himself as a king and arrives in a village. The villagers tell the slave to invite Raven for dinner, but the slave says Raven is not hungry, and takes the food for himself. Raven builds a bridge from cabbage and as the slave crosses, he falls to his death. Raven descends into the valley to eat the food from the dead slave's belly.[2]: 171
As Raven begins to develop a sense of generosity, he hosts apotlatch, in which he shares food with many guests. As he speaks, he wishes they would all turn to stone, and they do, giving form to a previously immaterial world.[2]: 176