Raven Traditional Cache

In Algonquin lore, Raven is a trickster. He can be a creator or a destroyer, a troublemaker or a miracle worker, the bane of humans or their salvation. He portrays evilness or kindness as he controls and manipulates the fate of humans. He amuses himself by taking advantage of human faults, but in return, is often humiliated by humans. Raven is a powerful spiritual force in disguise.

In the beginning, when land was new, the Norwottuck people were very poor, sickly and would fight each other for there was no water for them to drink. They called to Raven, the ”One-Who-Sets-Things-Right” to save them. Raven, a beautiful white bird with a sweet morning song, heard the humans and decided to help for he knew where the only fresh-water spring was.

An ogre named Ganook built his wickiup around the spring and he guarded it night and day so none would steal his water. Raven went to see Ganook who invited him to come in and he was happy for his company. Raven began singing beautiful songs that Ganook liked very much. Soon Raven became thirsty and asked for a drink of water. Ganook begrudgingly agreed but warned “Only a sip, don’t drink it all. It’s the only fresh water in all the world.”

Raven knew it well, he took a sip, but wanted more.

Raven sat by the fire and said “Let me tell you a story.” Whereupon he started telling a long dull story about a very dull trip he once took long, long ago. With Raven's soft voice, Ganook soon closed his eyes and began to snore. When he was sure Ganook was asleep, Raven flew to the spring and began drinking and drinking and drinking until he drank the spring dry.

Ganook heard Raven drinking and woke up shouting “Raven is stealing all my water!” He grabbed his war-club and began chasing him around the fire. Raven was so full of water he could hardly fly.

Finally, with one last mighty flap of his wings he flew toward the wickiup’s smoke hole, but he was so full of water he became stuck in the opening.
“Ah, I got you now you thief!” said Ganook as he threw green logs on the fire that made a lot of smoke. He was trying to choke Raven to death.

As Raven was struggling to free himself, the rising smoke began to turn his white feathers black, and the smoke began choking him. Soon his feathers became all black and his sweet voice changed to scratchy caw-caw sounds. And so he remains to this day.

Raven finally pulled himself free and began flying back to the humans. He was so heavy with water he flew a crook path and water squirted from his mouth. These waters became the River Mantehelas (Deerfield River) and the great River Quinnitukqut (Connecticut River). Here and there he scattered single drops, and these became fresh water springs that now dot the mountains.

The Norwottuck people were very happy and soon sang songs of praise to Raven. This made Raven happy. He told the people, "I have given the waters in the mountain good medicine. Drink from the Spring of Wealth and you will never be poor again. Drink from the Spring of Health and you will never be sick again. Drink from the Spring of Love and you will always be loved and never fight again.”

But Raven warned “You can only drink from two of the three springs, if you drink from all three, Ganook will catch you and you will forever be poor, sick and unloved.”

As Raven flew away he said “Choose wisely!”

You can visit these springs today, but I wonder which springs you would choose?

GC3VTV3 - Spring of Wealth
GC3VTV6 - Spring of Health
GC3VTV8 - Spring of Love