Box of Treasures by Alyson Bell, Xúndaaya

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Material: Red cedar, acrylic paint 

Dimensions: 16.5 cm x 13.3 cm x 13.3 cm (6.5 inches x 5.25 inches x 5.25 inches)

Design: 

"Everyone knows the story of how Raven stole the light. And how the Chief treasured the light above all other things, keeping it safe inside his infinite layers of bentwood boxes.The title is in reference to the story but also suggests to the owner to utilize the box in the way our ancestors did, by storing their precious items inside."

Summary

• In this piece you will see a black raven and a white raven, as well as nestled boxes, representing the story of when raven stole the light which was stored within an infinite number of bentwood boxes
• The box of treasures refers to the treasures stored in the infinite number of bentwood boxes, being the light of the universe
• In this story, raven, who is regarded as a trickster and change maker, stole the light and brought it to the world by flying through a chimney hole of a longhouse. In this moment the raven changed colours from the white raven to the black raven, after he was covered in chimney soot.

The Longer Story of Raven Stealing the Light 

“The world was covered in darkness. Raven, sick of living in the dark, flies to the sky world in search of a ball of light. He had heard that the sky world’s chief kept the light hidden. The chief feared his daughter was ugly, out of shame he hid the light.

Raven waited for the perfect plan. He learned quickly that the chief’s daughter went to the stream everyday to collect water. Raven transformed himself into a hemlock needle for her to swallow as she drank he impregnated her with himself.

When Raven was born as a human child, he still had raven qualities, beedy eyes, a beak like nose, and some feathers on his arms.

The chief adored his grandson and would do anything and everything for him. As the boy grew he started to explore the longhouse, Raven realized there was a bentwood box out of reach. As he went to open the box. He saw another box. The chief caught him and slammed it shut!

Raven cried and cried. The chief gave in and opened a box. Inside was another. Raven cried and cried some more. Another box was opened. Raven cried until finally the last box was about to open, holding the light.

Quickly he transformed into his bird form, snapped the light in his beak and flew through the smoke hole. The smoke hole is what turned raven from a white bird to a black bird, as we know him today.

As raven flew off, he accidentally dropped the light and it shattered into two large pieces and small pieces.

Once the light came into our skies, the chief saw his daughter and realized she was actually very beautiful.“

What is a Bentwood Box:

A bentwood box is made using a technique where a single piece of wood is grooved, steamed and bent to form the four sides of a box. Bentwood boxes of all sizes were used by Haida and northwest coast nations to store treasured regalia, gathered food & supplies.

By Haida Artist, Alyson Bell, Xúndaaya: 

Alyson Bell belongs to the Iij’aaw Yahgu ‘Laanaas Raven Clan from Old Masset in Haida Gwaii. She was taught how to draw form-line by her family. As a child, Alyson would accompany her grandfather to see his carving friends in their studios. She grew up surrounded by artists who inspire her to this day.

In 2023, Alyson graduated from the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art. Alyson works primarily in acrylics and is learning to carve alder. She is currently participating in a formal apprenticeship with renowned Haida artist, Robert Davidson.

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