Raven and Killer Whale
For IIjuwas (Bill Reid), Raven and Killer Whale were far more than artistic subjects; they were enduring teachers, ancient voices carrying lessons about transformation, responsibility, and the way we are meant to live with one another. Together, they embody the complementary forces at the heart of Haida culture and the human experience itself. Raven, the great transformer and bringer of light, reminds us that wisdom comes through curiosity, courage, humility, and the willingness to question what we think we know. Raven teaches us that growth often requires us to step beyond the familiar and embrace the responsibility that comes with discovery. Killer Whale represents strength guided by compassion, leadership rooted in family and community, and the sacred responsibility to protect what has been entrusted to us.
In Reid’s work, these powerful beings are not opposites but companions, revealing that true leadership requires imagination balanced by restraint, independence guided by responsibility, and courage grounded in respect.
Through Raven and Killer Whale, Reid affirmed that our worth is not defined by what we accumulate, but by how deeply we honour our relationships, with each other, with the natural world, and with the generations who will inherit our actions.
Following the Oldman River expedition, Bill Reid presented me with his prints of Raven and Killer Whale. I have carried them not simply as works of art, but as enduring reminders of responsibility, respect, and the importance of how we enter the lives, lands, and stories of others. During that journey, before our group of artists travelled through Indigenous territories, I believed it was essential to seek permission and build relationships based on respect. At Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump we met the nations. I was instructed to ask permission from the Piikani elders and, to speak to them in Piikani. I followed that guidance, approached with humility, and was graciously granted permission to continue.
Looking back, I understand that this experience reflected the very teachings embodied by Raven and Killer Whale. They taught everyone on the expedition that meaningful relationships do not begin with what we take, but with what we are willing to offer; not with assumptions, but with listening; not with entitlement, but with gratitude. Raven calls us to remain curious, open, and willing to learn. Killer Whale reminds us that every relationship carries responsibility and that true strength is found inprotecting and uplifting others. Together, they represent a way of living that asks us to extend ourselves beyond our own boundaries, with humility, compassion, and respect. In doing so, we honour those who welcome us and become better stewards of the trust placed in us.
For IIjuwas (Bill Reid), Raven and Killer Whale were far more than artistic subjects; they were enduring teachers, ancient voices carrying lessons about transformation, responsibility, and the way we are meant to live with one another. Together, they embody the complementary forces at the heart of Haida culture and the human experience itself. Raven, the great transformer and bringer of light, reminds us that wisdom comes through curiosity, courage, humility, and the willingness to question what we think we know. Raven teaches us that growth often requires us to step beyond the familiar and embrace the responsibility that comes with discovery. Killer Whale represents strength guided by compassion, leadership rooted in family and community, and the sacred responsibility to protect what has been entrusted to us.
In Reid’s work, these powerful beings are not opposites but companions, revealing that true leadership requires imagination balanced by restraint, independence guided by responsibility, and courage grounded in respect.
Through Raven and Killer Whale, Reid affirmed that our worth is not defined by what we accumulate, but by how deeply we honour our relationships, with each other, with the natural world, and with the generations who will inherit our actions.
Following the Oldman River expedition, Bill Reid presented me with his prints of Raven and Killer Whale. I have carried them not simply as works of art, but as enduring reminders of responsibility, respect, and the importance of how we enter the lives, lands, and stories of others. During that journey, before our group of artists travelled through Indigenous territories, I believed it was essential to seek permission and build relationships based on respect. At Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump we met the nations. I was instructed to ask permission from the Piikani elders and, to speak to them in Piikani. I followed that guidance, approached with humility, and was graciously granted permission to continue.
Looking back, I understand that this experience reflected the very teachings embodied by Raven and Killer Whale. They taught everyone on the expedition that meaningful relationships do not begin with what we take, but with what we are willing to offer; not with assumptions, but with listening; not with entitlement, but with gratitude. Raven calls us to remain curious, open, and willing to learn. Killer Whale reminds us that every relationship carries responsibility and that true strength is found inprotecting and uplifting others. Together, they represent a way of living that asks us to extend ourselves beyond our own boundaries, with humility, compassion, and respect. In doing so, we honour those who welcome us and become better stewards of the trust placed in us.
