Tlingit (Wrangell)

AFTER Raven had created people, a man died. Raven came into his house and saw his wife and children weeping around him. Raven raised with both hands the blanket of the dead man and held it over his body. So he brought him back to life.

Now Raven and the man both told the woman there was no death. She would not believe them. Then Raven said to her, “Lie down and go to sleep.”

When the woman slept she saw a wide trail. There were many people on it and many fierce animals. Good people had to pass this trail in order to live again. At the end of the trail there was a broad river, and a canoe came to her from the other side. When she crossed the river, people came to her. They said, “You had better go back. We are not in a good place. We are hungry here and can get no water to drink. We are cold.”

That is why people burn the bodies of the dead and place food in the fire for them to eat. If they were not burned their spirits would be cold. That is why food and drink are given to them at the feast of the dead.