Ravens hold special roles in Canada’s north: trickster, companion, troublemaker… The word for a group of ravens is a conspiracy – quite fitting to their mischievous and intelligent nature and social behaviour. Since I was young, they have been one of my favourite animals to listen to and watch, and even talk with! This piece follows the Raven into its daily life, and also into its mysterious history.

Movement 1 – Sticks and Bones
Where did the raven come from? Deep in the centre of the Earth there was a huge nest made of dead jackpine trees and animal bones. An egg lay in the nest, surrounded by the slow heat and fire. A crack appeared. The being inside gathered its strength and burst from the shell! The baby Raven was as white as the bones when it first emerged. It clawed its way towards the surface of the Earth. Its feathers were ripped and made ragged, and its whole body became charred and black. It burst
from the old, hard rock and into the sky.

Movement 2 – Waltz of Wing and Claw
In the spring mating-dance of the Raven, the birds fly in beautiful formations. Many areas around Yellowknife’s highrises and hills have fantastic updrafts where dozens of Ravens gather to play in the wind and court their mates. They hang suspended as long as they can before swooping towards the ground – wingtips and clawtips touching.

Movement 3 – Something Shiny
Ravens are always the scavenger, always the opportunist. They are constantly searching for new, exciting distractions. Their calls are quirky yet operatic; their movements when hopping on the ground are jerky yet graceful. The only predictable thing about their behaviour is its unpredictability. They remind me of humans!