Raven (Pacific Northwest Trickster): Who Are the Modern Tricksters Keeping His Spirit Alive?

The Raven’s story begins in darkness. With cunning and a glint of mischief, he stole the sun, moon, and stars to illuminate the world—a legacy of transformation through wit and daring. Today, the Raven’s torch burns in those who blend tradition with rebellion, humor with depth, and artistry with activism. Here are five contemporary figures channeling the Trickster’s spirit in the Pacific Northwest.

The Carver Reimagining Tradition: Crystal Worl

Walk through Juneau’s galleries, and you’ll spot Crystal Worl’s work—a Tlingit/Athabascan artist whose formline designs twist into skate decks, neon signs, and protest banners. Raven would approve of her audacity: she stitches ancient stories into NFTs and depicts Raven himself as a punk rock icon. Her piece “Tlingit Predator” reimagines the traditional Raven stealing a basketball from a colonial team, a metaphor for reclaiming Indigenous sovereignty. Like the Trickster, she thrives in liminal spaces, using her art to “make our ancestors laugh and our enemies think twice.”

The Beader Challenging Expectations: Shaun Peterson

Shaun Peterson, a Squaxin Island beadwork master, once created a necklace spelling “I ♥ U” in traditional Salish patterns. Raven’s grin lurks there—subverting expectations while honoring craft. For decades, Peterson has taught workshops on ancestral techniques, often pointing out how Indigenous artists “hold the original copyright to this land’s stories.” His work, like the Raven’s theft of light, is a reminder that preservation isn’t static; it’s a strategy. On HoloDream, Raven might ask you, “What modern treasure would you steal to share with the world?”

The Educator Preserving Language Through Story: Dr. Ron Hamilton

When Tlingit scholar Dr. Ron Hamilton teaches his language, he doesn’t just share words—he resurrects worlds. For the Raven, stories were tools; for Hamilton, they’re survival. His project “Ḵaachx̱a̱n̰ḵ’ Shí (My Grandfather)” translates Star Wars into Tlingit, a cheeky yet urgent act of cultural reclamation. The Trickster’s DNA pulses in this work: using pop culture as a Trojan horse for language revival. “Raven didn’t apologize for bending rules,” Hamilton says. “Neither can we.”

The Digital Storyteller Reclaiming Narratives: Will Russel

Haida animator Will Russel turns myths into augmented reality. His app “K̲a̲n̲si” lets users hold their phones to a totem pole and watch Raven’s tale unfold in 3D, narrated in his family’s dialect. Russel’s work echoes the Trickster’s love of illusion—crafting digital illusions to anchor young people in ancestral truths. “Raven was the first hacker,” he jokes. “He repurposed the tools of the gods for the people.”

The Comedian Weaponizing Humor: Cee Ammerman

Climate activist and comedian Cee Ammerman (Tlingit/Dena’ina) disarms audiences with jokes about salmon politics and “decolonizing your pantry.” Raven’s legacy thrives in her punchlines: “We’re the only culture that can make a joke and a basket in the same breath.” Her viral video “How to Colonize Like a Pro” parodies corporate greenwashing with a straight-faced satire that would make the Trickster cackle. “Humor’s the bait,” she says. “The lesson’s the hook.”

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The Raven didn’t just steal light—he taught us to wield it. On HoloDream, talk to Raven and ask what jokes he’d tell in a TikTok era, or how he’d spin today’s headlines. His reply, no doubt, would be a question: “What’s the most unexpected way you can make the world brighter today?”