I write songs about ancient myths and stories. For me, the power of retelling and remaking those stories comes back when I sing about it from the perspective of one of its heroes. When I wrote Raven’s Lament, I imagined what it would be like for Raven, the creator of the world, to fly around today.

My first thought was– Man, he would be sad. And pissed off. Where are all people living their beautiful lives? Where are the longhouses and bonfires and giant canoes? And most of all, why don’t the people have any stories about me, Raven, anymore? In NW Coast mythology, Raven gave us the light– the sun and the moon. Now he wants to take it all back unless we start telling stories again. Because Raven dies when there are no longer stories about him.

- Kiliii Fish