Panel depicting Raven and Sky People, 2016
by David A. Boxley, Alaskan Tsimshian
47.5" high x 59.5" wide x 1.25" deep
hand carved red cedar, pigment
Legend of Raven and Sky People
Once the earth had no daylight. Raven had put fish in the rivers, and fruit trees on the land, but he was saddened by the darkness. The Sun, the Stars and the Moon at that time were kept in bentwood boxes by a chief in the sky. The Raven came to a hole in the sky and went through. He came to a spring where the chief's daughter would fetch water. He changed himself into a cedar sprig and floated on the water. When the girl drank from spring she swallowed the sprig without noticing and became pregnant.
A boy child was born which was really Raven. Though this was a strange happening, the chief fell in love with his grandson. The toddler begged to play with each of the Chief's bentwood boxes that contained the light. Raven child was allowed to play with the stars, the moon, and the sun, but when the chief turned his back, Raven released them into the sky through the smoke hole of the chief's longhouse. The last to be released was the sun, and Raven decided to carry the sun into the sky himself. Raven accomplished his goal of giving daylight to the world.
David Albert Boxley (b. 1952) is a Tsimshian master carver and keeper of tradition from Metlakatla, Alaska. A member of the Eagle Clan, Boxley has received three important Sm’algyax names in his lifetime. Names are either passed through family lines, or to mark important life passages or accomplishments. It is the responsibility of each person to live a good life and to make the name honorable and strong, so that when it is time to pass the name on, the name is good. David takes pride for each of his names and works everyday to make his names good.
Nuketsismaask means "Works with the Cedar Bark", given to him in 1987 by his Grandfather
Ksgooga Yaawk means "First to Potlatch", given to him in 1982 by Alfred Eaton
Niis Bupts'aan means "Grandfather of Totem Poles, Given to him in 2019 by Laxskiig (The Eagle Clan)
Boxley’s inspiration comes from his ancestors of the Tsimshian Tribe from Northern British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. He has dedicated over 40 years of his life to the revitalization and rebirth of Tsimshian arts and culture. He not only wants to be the best artist he can be, but he wants to inspire and influence the continuation of this beautiful art form and cultural practices.
Boxley has work in many important private and public collections including the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, Portland Art Museum, Oregon Health Science's University, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Seattle Art Museum, and the Alaska State Museum.
