The raka are the native inhabitants of the Copper Isles. After a conquest they lived under the lordship of the luarin arrivals from the Eastern Lands for nearly 300 years, before a revolution in 463 H.E. puts a new part-raka Queen to the throne.

Before the luarin conquest in 174 h.E. the raka tended to be free. Afterward, almost the whole people was made to slaves. Although some former nobles kept their titles, they were forced into poverty. In the course of time there were marriages between raka and luarin an a multitude of part-raka were produced.

Raka people are described as being dark-skinned, with black hair and dark brown eyes, unlike the luarin who are fair-skinned. Their traditional food is often very spicy, and their traditional garb include sarongs for both men and women. Tamora Pierce has said that the raka people and the Copper Isles are based on Indonesia.

Notable raka characters include Sarugani Temaida, Chenaol, Ochobu, Ulasim and Junai Dodeka, Lokeij, and Fesgao Yibenu. The god Kyprioth is the patron of the Copper Isles and frequently takes on a raka form. Notable half-raka characters include Saraiyu and Dovasary Balitang.