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

Inscription.

[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

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1983.

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,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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); Ketchikan has a strong history of community service (a few steps from this marker);

Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa (totem pole) and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

2. Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa (totem pole) and Marker

Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); This is the beginning of a salmon’s final run (within shouting distance of this marker); The Creek is the heart of the town (within shouting distance of this marker); Creek Flood of Time (within shouting distance of this marker); 'Cat' Houses & Sporting Women (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ketchikan.

Also see . . . Ketchikan Museums. (Submitted on October 6, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 2, 2026

3. Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa Marker

Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa (totem pole) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

4. Raven Stealing the Sun Kootéeyaa (totem pole)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 510 times since then and 113 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on September 11, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on October 6, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.