With uncanny intelligence and a curious nature, ravens have figured a permanent place in the lore of Northwest Coast native cultures. Cast as both a Trickster and the Creator, ravens are portrayed as selfish, mischievous and ever-hungry, foiling the unsuspecting and the prosaic. Despite its treacherous ways, native cosmology recognizes this Trickster's chaos as transformational. While he may leave ruin in his wake, he also reveals new possibilities and creative evolution. In its most popular tale, the raven steals the sun from hoarding old man then clumsily drops and breaks it illuminating the cold, dark world.