Myths and Legends of British North America/When Raven Married off his Sister (Haida)
WHEN RAVEN MARRIED OFF HIS SISTER
Haida
RAVEN wanted to find a good husband for his sister. He went out one day and cried, "Who will marry my sister?"
"I," "I," "I," "I," said all the animals. So Raven began to question them.
"What can you do?" he asked Grizzly Bear.
"When I see people, I will roar," said Grizzly.
"You are too bad-tempered," said Raven. He refused him.
Wolf offered. "What can you do?" asked Raven.
"I snap at people if I am alone. When the pack is with me, I devour them," said Wolf.
"You are too bad-tempered," said Raven.
Then Elk offered. "I can crash through the forests," said Elk. Raven refused him.
"What can you do?" asked Raven of Deer and Porpoise. They were cousins.
"I can pull out any skunk cabbage with my teeth," said Deer. Porpoise said, "I will always eat clean things. I always eat herring." That is why, when Deer swims to an island, Porpoise always swims with him.
So Raven consented. He let Porpoise marry his sister.