Permission has been provided by David Bouchard.

1. Beneath Raven Moon
Ba’naboy’ laxa Gwa’wina ’Makwala
David Bouchard
English &
the art of Andy Everson ’
Kwakwala
includes
the flute of mary youngblood multilingual
CD

2. Beneath Raven Moon
Ba’naboy’ laxa Gwa’wina ’Makwala
David Bouchard
the art of Andy Everson
the flute of mary youngblood
Kwak’wala translation by Pauline Alfred and Pewi alfred

3. Trickster appears in many legends.
The Lakota speak of Iktomi. The Assiniboine,
Nixant. Among the Cheyenne, Trickster is Veeho.
To the Mi’kmaq, Glooskap. The Ojibway call him
Nanaboozhoo. The Cree and Métis know him as
Wesakaychak or Whiskey Jack. The Blackfoot tell
of Napi and the Hopi of Massau’u.
Here, in the home of Grandfather Cedar, the Mystic
Mountains and the Shining Seas, Trickster is Raven.

4. Raven is Trickster. Raven is Creator.
Raven is Transformer and Shape Shifter.
Raven can be anything he chooses and he chooses
to be Raven because Raven is handsome, intelligent
and can be a bit of a clown through whom we
can come to see that it is okay to make mistakes.
From Raven we learn that Creator will love us even
if we are less than perfect.
Raven is known to be many things and can be seen
in all things.
However, what is often forgotten is that Raven
is also ... Matchmaker.

5. Have you ever heard of Woodpecker Moon?
No, of course you haven’t.
Have you ever heard of Blue Jay Moon or Prairie
Chicken Moon? Of course not. They don’t exist.
However ... if you ever find yourself beneath Father
Sky on a quiet, endless night when Grandmother
Moon, surrounded by All Your Relations the stars,
is at her fullest – be careful! Then, you will find
yourself under the influence of the Matchmaker!
Then, you will be Beneath Raven Moon.

6. Beneath Raven Moon
Raven and Eagle were perched high on Grandfather
Cedar.
Eagle, who is closer to Raven than any other, asked,
“Raven have you happened to notice that beautiful
young clam digger who lives in the village at Four
Creeks Crossing?”
“Yes Eagle. I know her. Why?” Raven answered.
Eagle went on, “And have you noticed that charming
young fisherman usually seen out fishing with his
brothers in the sheltered cove?”
“Of course I know him Eagle. Why? What are you
getting at?”
Ba’naboy’ laxa Gwa’wina ’Makwala
’
Kwaxtuwe’ le’e Gwa’wina dłu’ kwikwex xa ’waladzi
’
Gagamp Tłakw’mas.
’Namugwad le’e Kwikwes Gwa’wina. ’Walas le’e
’naxwała ’namugwadas. “Gwa’wina” nikle’e “i’ses
’
dukwala xa ’walasi iksukw t sadak gada dzika laxwa
’
t łama’isex. Gayuł le lax kalu’gwis.”
’
“E. Małt ela’mantłax” niki Kwikw “Masi lagiła’os
’watłala’ Gwa’wina?”
La’am le’e ugwaki kwikw ’watłax Gwa’wina. “I’sas
’
dukwala xa ’walasi ikala kit łinuxw. Gax naxwa’am
’
dukwala kitła dławis ’wiwakwa laxux da atłe’dze’.”
’
“E. Małt ale’mantła x Kwikw. ’Masi legiła’os watła’?”

7. Eagle turned and faced her friend. “Well, I for one
think these two are very well suited for one another
... but sadly, they are never going to meet.
Their villages are too far apart.”
“Unless,” Raven interrupted, smiling ... “Unless
something or someone was able to draw them
together!”
La’am niki Kwikw kaxis ’namukw Gwa’wina.
’
“Ola ik laxwa hayakuxw’ida’xw’lax. I’st a weła ola
’
t saxalan noka’yi i’s weła’. Gayulas Tłume kwisałi
gi’gayudłases.”
“Om” niki Gwa’wina ’manxwałi Gwa’wina
“gwix’ida’same’gan’s tłi’lalax ka’
’
małt ega’atłalexda’xwes?”

8. That night, when Grandfather Sun rested and
Father Sky sat painted in shades of cold and mist,
Matchmaker worked. Night was his time
as everything stopped because of the darkness.
None could fish or dig for clams because of
the darkness.
None could stray far from their lodgings because
of the darkness.
It was during that darkness that Matchmaker struck.
’
La’am ganułida’. La’am xus’aliłi Gagamp Tłisala
’ ’ ’
dłu’ ump laxa iki. Kwaga’lił k as xwalt ide’sa ’wadala
’
dła’wida palx ala. La’am ugwaka i’ax ali Match-
maker. Higa’am i’ax alaxdan’s Match-maker’eda
ganuł. Gayalas la’me ’wa’lida ’naxwa. ’Wi’la’am
’
padakalida ’naxwa. Gayalas lame’e ganułida’.
’ ’ ’
Kiyosweł kitła, kiyosweł dzika. Le’e padax’idida
’
ganuł. Le padax’idida ’naxwa.
’ ’
Kiyos yalagal’sa gayalas lame’ padax’ida.
’
He’am laxdams i’ax’idi Match-maker le padax’idida
’nala.

9. That night, when all was quiet and dark, a young
clam digger took a burning branch from her council
fire and quietly slipped out of her village.
The trails she followed were safe and comfortable
and her journey was only complete when she
reached the seashore. There, by the hour, she stared
out over the mystic waters!
That night, when all was dark and quiet, a young
fisherman, with little but a torch from his council fire,
made his way to the ocean shore. There, he spent
hours dreaming, gazing over the life-giving waters.
’
La’am ganuł’ids la’eda dzikinuxw dax’id xis
’
kwaxtłal’kas xix’ida’masex. La’am xix’ida’mas la’am
’
kas’i k as bowe’sis awi’nakwas.
’
La’am le ganutła le dłaxwa’lił’ida kitłinuxw. La’am
dax’id k as k’watłal’k as ’mix’idex. La’am kas’ida’am.
’
Kasa, kasa. La’am duxw’idtła tłama’is o’mis hix’ids
’ ’
le ba’naxa kwaga’lił sa tłama’is. ’Mix ala, ’walas
’mixala. Ax’stuwis ga’yagas ka’s dukwała xa ’wa
kana’ł. ’Walasi iksukw’bida ’wap le dukwała.
’
La’am ganuł’ida ’walas padakala’. La’am dłaxw’idida
gananam kitłinuxw. Am x atłagali xik alis k’wa xtła’wi.
’ ’
La’am le’sta laxa xigił k as xixda’masa xis k’waxtłal.
’
La’am kas’i k as le laxa tłama’is. Geła dławi
’ ’
sa tłama’is. O’ama xitsaxa xa ’wa kana’ł ’walas
’ ’
iksukw’ida ’wap, tłitłanikwala. He’mis o’m la
dławis kas dukwała.

10. The problem was this: Grandmother Moon did not
exist – yet. Raven had gifted us with Grandfather Sun
but at night, Father Sky sat empty.
Night after night, the young clam digger and her
fisherman walked to the sea in total darkness ...
all but for what little light their torches threw off.
Though they were close to each other as they walked
and stood on the beach, neither knew the other
was there.
’ ’
Kiyos mo’ł le gagas ’Makwala’, k iyos mo’ł le
’
higa’mi Gagamp Tłisala. He’mis lagids’. Am hayulis
’
padakalida ganuł.
Gax ’naxwa’am ganuł isa ’naxwa kas’id ge’
’ ’
t sadak xa dzik inuxwbidu’. La ’naxwa kasa. ’Walas
’ ’ ’ ’
padakala’am xatłagila kwa kaxis kwa xtło’we. He’am
’naxawis gwigilida kitłinuxw la ’naxwa daxis k’wa
’
’
kayes k as xatła xide’ xa mix’ida x k as k ase’ la
’ ’
’naxwa kasa laxa padakala. Hiwaxwat a dudakwa xa
’
dła’wida iksukw’bidawi dzikinuxwa’.

11. Now, Raven is giving and he is forgiving. But Raven
is not patient.
Seeing what was happening, he flew into the
fisherman’s village, grabbed a large burning log
and hauled it through the forest to the sea.
Raven planned on placing that log high in Father
Sky but it was too heavy. So he dragged it across the
surface of the waters painting a trail of shimmering,
sparkling light that soon caught the sharp eye
of Eagle.
This one hurled herself down toward the water and
with her mighty talons took hold of that burning log.
Together, Eagle and Raven placed it high in Father
Sky birthing Grandmother Moon to cast her brilliance
as far as the eye could see.
’ ’ ’
Olakala iktsa ki Gwa’wina iktsa k i’s a x dała xa
’
yaksa’mi tłumati Gwa’wina i’s i’ak as isałe’.
La’am duxwatłali Gwa’wina xa gwigi’las. La’am
’ ’
pał’ida’ la’am pał’ix’s xa laga’a lax awi’nagwas sesa
’ ’ ’
kitłinuxw. La’am xapi xa kwa xtło’dzi. K as ’mix’ide’x.
’
La’am dax’id kas le pał’ida’. La’am heka laxa dłi’dło’s
dzikas. Kas le hi’stand laxa ‘wap.
’
’Nikik ala wax’i Gwa’wina. K as le a x’atłaludtsa
’waladzi k’wa xtło’ lax umpa laxa iki. Tłumata gwanta
’ ’ ’
i’s weł k as la k wisgilas. O’mis la’ a x’atłalus laxa
’
’wap k as dapalex. O’m la dapala xa kwa xtło’dzi o
’
tłanakwala laxa ’wap. La’am dapala la’am duxwatłali
’
kwikwex tłuma dudakwasi kwikw.

13. As they did every night, the clam digger and the
fisherman made their way to the sea. Only on this
night, they arrived to a spectacular sight high in
Father Sky. In awe, for what seemed to be forever,
they gazed at the beauty of Grandmother Moon!
They then marvelled at the glittering path she
had laid upon the waters. And then their eyes met!
They fell in love and were soon after married on
that same moonlit beach.
La’am duxwatłali kwikwax gwigilasesa Gwa’wina.
’
La’am pałix’s la gaga’walax. La’am daband xa kwa ’
’ ’
xtłodzi xa xik ala. La’am pał’ixda’xw’s pał’iks k asle
’ ’
lalaga’a lax umpa laxa iki. K asle tsos lax. La’am
’ ’
laga’a. La’am tsos lax umpa laxa iki he’misan’s
laxdan loł xuxda Gagasex ’Ma kwala’. He’am lagids
na kwałida ganuł, gayulas le’gan’s loł xa gagas ’Ma
’
kwala i’sola padakala.
’Weł’amxawis le kitłida a x’xexa ganuł. Gayalas le
’
’nakwała. Masi gagas ’Makwala i’s la padakalida
ge’ganuł.

14. As a gift to the young couple, Raven left them with
Grandmother Moon. The clam digger’s family could
gather clams well into the night.
He’am yagwams Gwa’wina. Yakwas Gagas ’Makwala.
’ ’
La’am yakwas laxa dzikinuxwbidu’ tsadaka’. He’mis
lagids weł dzikida a x’xexa ganutłex xwa ’nalax
gayalas le ’nakwałas’ida ’Makwala.

15. And by the light of Grandmother Moon,
fishermen fished and all was good ...
’
Gayalase ’walas kwa kałamasi Gagas ’Makwala.
He’mis lagił weł kitłida xi wał na ganutła. Gayulas
le nakwała masi Gagas ’Makwala.

16. “That worked out pretty well, eh Eagle?” Raven
smiled.
“That should serve those who need a little direction
and encouragement in matters of love!” Raven then
added with a wink ... “And, who knows, it might also
serve a few unsuspecting victims?”
“Ole ikan’s gwix’idas wa Kwikw” niki Gwa’wina.
’Wa manxwałi Gwa’wina.
He’am gwibała’adtsu k a łokwałetsan noka’en’s kan’s
aleyak an’s łaxwala’su’. O iki nokeyasa Gwa’wina.
’ ’
La’am kwa x’idi Gwa’wina kwa x’ixis ’namukw
’
xa Kwikw ’wa i’segan’s kotłala! Angwanawisida
hetłagwigi sutłi’.

17. If you, dear reader, find yourself standing under
Father Sky on a quiet, endless night when
Grandmother Moon, surrounded by All Your
Relations the stars, is at her fullest ... admire her.
Admire the shimmering path she paints across
the waters. Admire, but whatever you do ... do not
look on the beach next to you ... because then, you
will be under the eye of Eagle and her friend the
Matchmaker. Then, you will be Beneath Raven Moon.
’ ’ ’
K asle su’am la k ak adaxwsilalax. Yetłołalax k us
’
su’am la kalax lakus dłaxwałala lax ba’na’yasa
’
umpa ik i laxa ikana’ła ganuł. Kwe gatłi gagas
’Makwala dła’wis naxwa dłi’dłidładłola laxa
’’ ’
titutudzikas. O’am ma dłos xus hi’lo’osa kus hi’lo’osa
’ ’
xa naxwa tłanikwala t łanikwalakanał laxa ’wap.
’ ’
Otsimasan’s xi’lax xux da ’wape lax t łanikwala
’
o’am yet łoła x kus isala so’sa ba’nagawe’sida Kwikw
dła’wi namukw kweseda Match-maker. O’am laxus
la ba’ne laxs sa Gwa’wina ’Makwala.

18. Trickster and his best friend Eagle sure worked their magic on me. I dedicate this love
story to you my love, my life and my wife, Vicki. — D.B.
For Nicole, without whom being beneath raven moon would not be the same. — A.E.
I am eternally grateful to my Ancestors ... To those who walked before me, for paving
the way on this Journey. “Quyanaa” (Alutiiq Thanks!) For giving me an ear in which
to hear the music, which healed and opened my heart, completing a sacred circle, and
allowing me to be a vessel ... And Blessings, to my four beautiful children – Ben, Liz,
Joe & Chris!!!! And two Granddaughters, Berkeley & Kaydence! — M.Y.
Copyright © 2012 David Bouchard
Art copyright © 2012 Andy Everson
Music copyright © 2012 Mary Youngblood
87654321
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted in any form
or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or
stored in a retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the publisher. The
pages and artwork in this publication may not be cut, lifted, transferred or in any way
removed with the intent to create other products for sale or resale, or for profit in any
matter whatsoever without the expressed written consent from the individual artist
and the publisher.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Bouchard, David, 1952-
Beneath Raven Moon = Ba’naboy’ laxa Gwa’wina
‘Makwala / David Bouchard; Andy Everson, illustrator.
Issued also in French under title: Sous la Lune de Corbeau.
Text in English and Kwakwala.’
ISBN 978-0-9784327-8-2
I. Everson, Andy II. Title. III. Title: Ba’naboy’ laxa Gwa’wina ‘Makwala.
PS8553.O759S68 2012 C813’.54 C2012-901128-2
More Than Words Publishers
823 Hendecourt Road
North Vancouver, BC V7K 2X5
Tel. 604-985-2527
www.MTWPublishers.com
’
Kwakwala translation by Pauline Alfred & Pewi Alfred, read by Pauline Alfred
Book design by Arifin Graham, Alaris Design
Sound design and mastering by Geoff Edwards at streamworks.ca
Thanks to Bonnie Chapman and Jocelyn Rea
Produced by Chris Patrick
Printed and bound in Canada by Friesens Corporation on 10% pcw recycled paper.
C016245

19. Raven is Trickster. Raven is Creator. Raven
is Transformer and Shape Shifter. Raven can
be anything he chooses. However, what is often
forgotten is that Raven is also ... Matchmaker.
“That night, when Grandfather Sun rested
and Father Sky sat painted in shades of cold
and mist, Matchmaker worked. Night was his time
as everything stopped because of the darkness.”
’
La’am ganułida’. La’am xus’aliłi Gagamp Tłisala
’ ’ ’
dłu’ ump laxa iki. Kwaga’lił k as xwalt ide’sa ’wadala
’
dła’wida palx ala. La’am ugwaka i’ax ali Match-
maker. Higa’am i’ax alaxdan’s Match-maker’eda
ganuł. Gayalas la’me ’wa’lida ’naxwa. ’Wi’la’am
’
padakalida ’naxwa. Gayalas lame’e ganułida’.