Ketchikan in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024
1. Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa Marker
[Totem pole effigies, top to bottom]
• Yeil (Raven)
• Sun
• Chief's Daughter
• Chief wearing a tall hat. Baby's face in the hat suggests Chief's Raven-ness
The Raven Stealing the Sun kootéeyaa (totem pole), commissioned by the City of Ketchikan, honors the Taant'a Kwáan Tlingit who have inhabited the local area since time immemorial. Tahltan/Tlingit master carver Dempsey Bob and his nephew apprentice Stanley Bevan (Tsimshian/Tlingit) designed and carved the pole, which was raised in 1983.
The totem pole tells of a time when the world had no light. Raven discovered that the sun, moon, and stars were hoarded by a powerful chief. Raven changed form, appearing as the Chief's grandson, and cried until his grandfather gave him the boxes containing the heavenly bodies. Then Raven, with his trickery, opened the boxes, bringing light in the form of the stars, moon, and sun to the Earth.
SEE MORE KOOTÉEYAA at the Totem Heritage Center's virtual exhibit
Visit the Totem Heritage Center to see original 19th Century totem poles. Located at 601 Deermount St.
Erected by Ketchikan Museums.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals
this page online
Location. 55° 20.551′ N, 131° 38.596′ W. Marker is in Ketchikan, Alaska, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. It can be reached from Dock Street. Totem pole and marker are on the Tongass Historical Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 629 Dock Street, Ketchikan AK 99901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Alaska, in Tlingit and Haida & Tsimshian Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, the Inside Passage, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chief Johnson Totem Pole (here, next to this marker); Yak'éi Haat Yeey.aadí. (here, next to this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); 'Cat' Houses & Sporting Women (within shouting distance of this marker); In Defiance of the Dry Squad (within shouting distance of this marker); Star House (within shouting distance of this marker); Chief Kyan Totem Pole (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ketchikan Shingle Mill (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ketchikan.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Chief Johnson Totem Pole (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . . Ketchikan Museums. (Submitted on October 6, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024
2. Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa (totem pole) and Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024
3. Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa (totem pole)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 473 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
