Creation Myths and Legends of the Indigenous People of Alaska

LONG, long ago, in the days of the animal people, Raven-at-the-head-of-Nass became angry. He said, 'Let rain pour down all over the world. Let people die of starvation.' At once, it became so stormy people could not get food, so they began to starve. Their canoes were also broken up, their houses fell in upon them, and they suffered very much. Then Nas-ca-ki-yel, Raven-at-the-head-of-Nass, asked for his jointed dance hat. When he put it on, water began pouring out of the top of it. It is from Raven that the Indians obtained this kind of hat.

When the water rose to the house floor, Raven and his mother climbed upon the lowest retaining timber. Although it looked like a house to them, this house we are speaking of was part of the world. It had eight rows of retaining timbers.