The First Nations exploration that took place during the distant past has become part of traditional knowledge and stories. In such accounts, the archetypal explorer searches for food and companions and is driven by a spirit of curiosity that is part of all expeditions of exploration. But in these stories, the explorers are not usually human. Instead they take on characteristics of supernatural beings, including animals, such as Orca and Bear, and forces of nature, such as the Fog Woman of the Haida and Tlingit.
In a number of First Nations, the Raven is an important figure. The Tlingit, Haida, Aleut, and other nations tell stories of the Raven, a “trickster” who takes advantage of other beings and his surroundings. But Raven is also associated with stories about the first humans. Raven is an adventurer who travels the world. Many of the Raven stories are set in a time before land was formed: Raven flies above the sea, seeking a place to land in the vastness of the ocean. Like other explorers, he is proud to return to tell of his travels. In Haida belief, he discovers and explores not only the islands and mainland, but the solid realms above the Earth and the realm beneath the ocean.
Exploration includes not only curiosity and inquiry, but an interest in telling of, and even possessing, what has been explored. Some expeditions hide their scientific, navigational, and cultural findings or share them with a select group. In Haida society, there are two lines. Some Haida belong to the Raven line and some to the Eagle line. Many of the stories of Raven belong to Raven families, and it is not appropriate to tell certain Raven stories unless those stories belong to one’s own family. The teachings of these stories are to be explored in a respectful and fitting way.
