John Thompson
Northern News Services

Arctic Bay (June 13/05) - When you see a raven flying towards you on the land, it could mean there's a polar bear nearby.

That was one nugget of wisdom passed on by elders in Arctic Bay to students and instructors involved in a literacy program.

The interviews were videotaped and burned to DVD, so younger generations can continue to enjoy the stories.

"It was interesting. I never heard those stories before," said Rick Oyukuluk, a student who helped film the interviews.

"I feel great that I can pass it on to other people. I'd encourage more people to get more stories from elders."

Instructor Rex Willie, who also listened in on the stories, said the traditional knowledge was usually put to use for hunting.

"When they'd see a raven coming, they'd start packing their tools."

The interviews made him realize he missed hearing the stories that elders told him as a child.

"When I was young my grandmother used to tell stories, but I never had the chance to record them," Willie said.

While Oyukuluk enjoyed the stories, that doesn't mean he likes the birds: more than anything, he finds them to be a nuisance.

"They're always bothering the dogs," he said.

For author Kerry McCluskey, who's putting the finishing touches on a book about ravens across the North, this penchant for mischief is what makes the birds so appealing.

"That's why I took a shining to them in the first place," she said.

A copy of the Arctic Bay interviews meant a lot to McCluskey, who toured the North four years ago to gather raven stories for her book. She visited Arctic Bay and heard the same accounts herself, but when she returned home, she found her recording equipment had malfunctioned and those stories had been lost. She said she's thankful the students have provided the missing pieces.