Glooscap

they have grown smaller in size and they are no longer powerful as in the old days in early times they were called the children of light for of all the people in america they dwelt nearest to the sunrise their great lord and creator was glooskap where he was himself born and when no man knows from the place of his birth he sailed across the sea in a great stone canoe to the part of america nearest to the rising sun he landed on the eastern shores of canada far out he anchored his canoe and it was so large that it became an island and great trees grew upon it when he needed it it was always ready to do his bidding but it always became an island when it was not in use on the shore of the atlantic ocean glooskap dwelt many years ages and ages until one day he sailed away to the hunting grounds of his fathers far over the sea about glooskap's work many strange tales are told from his birth and throughout his long life his deeds were very wonderful he was one of twin brothers the other being wolf the son of wickedness glooskap was the son of goodness their mother died at their birth and the two children were left alone Both had magic power which could keep them from harm, and death could not come to them except in one way.

Glooscap could be killed only by a flowering rush, and Wolf only by a fern root, and each alone knew the secret of his own death.

Now it was known before Glooscap's birth that he should become the lord of the land

of the rising sun in Canada.

but beaver and squirrel who were great in those days and even before his coming were jealous of his power when he arrived for they themselves wished to rule the land they tempted wolf to kill his brother and he being the son of wickedness would have been glad of the chance but he did not know the secret of his brother's death One night of bright starlight, Beaver, hiding stealthily among the trees, as was his custom, heard Glooscap boasting to the stars about his charmed life.

He could trust the stars, and he told them that he could be killed only by means of a flowering rush.

Then Beaver hurried away to Wolf.

He told him that he knew the secret of Glooscap's death, and that he would tell it if Wolf would give him what he wished.

know, right? As soon as I read that, I was like, oh, I'm very interested.

And Glooscap, if I'm saying that correctly, probably not, is like a cultural hero of the Mi'kmaq tribe, which I'm also probably saying Mi'kmaq wrong.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

He had one son whom he loved with all his heart.

He hoped that his son would grow up to be a warrior greater than his father.

But the lad was slender and white-faced.

He did not seem strong.

Long marches wearied him.

When the Indian boys are about eighteen years of age, they like to show that they will make brave warriors.

To do this, they take certain tests.

These are some of them.

He had one son whom he loved with all his heart.

He hoped that his son would grow up to be a warrior greater than his father.

But the lad was slender and white-faced.

He did not seem strong.

Long marches wearied him.

When the Indian boys are about eighteen years of age, they like to show that they will make brave warriors.

To do this, they take certain tests.

These are some of them.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording done by Jules Harlock of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

In Indian Tents by Abby Langdon Auger Chapter 21 The Story of the Squirrel When great Glooscap, lord of men and beasts, had brought order out of the chaos in which the world was at the beginning, he called together the animals and assigned to each the position he should hold in the future.

To some he gave the water, to others the land, and to others wings to fly through the air.

Over each tribe he appointed a leader called Kachee, the great one.

These could command help or power from others called their Pohegans.

In some animals Glooscap found a fierceness which, when combined with size and strength, would make them dangerous for Indians to encounter.

To this class belonged Miko, the squirrel, at that time as large as a wolf.

Therefore Glooscap stroked him on the back until he became the size that he now is.

Coe.

Glooscap, the Indian chief, had returned from the warpath.

His foes were slain or scattered.

No other tribe of red men dared to stand before him.

Glooscap was very proud of what he had done.

My work is over, he often said to himself.

Whom else is there for me to conquer? No one.

Whom is there for me to conquer? The old squaw raised her hand and pointed toward the wigwam.

Canadian Fairy Tales by Cyrus Macmillan.

How Glooscap Made the Birds.

Once upon a time, long before the white man came to Canada, there lived a wicked giant who caused great trouble and sorrow wherever he went.

Men called him Wolf Wind.

Not a strand did he spin, nor a web did he weave.

No men on earth were working, only the women toiled.

At last, Glooscap, who ruled upon the earth in that time, became very angry because the men in these parts were so lazy, and he sent famine into their country to punish them for their sins.

Famine came very stealthily into the land and gathered up all the corn and carried it off.

Canadian Fairy Tales by Cyrus McMillan.

How Glooscap Made the Birds.

Once upon a time, long before the white man came to Canada, there lived a wicked giant who caused great trouble and sorrow wherever he went.

Men called him Wolf Wind.

No men on earth were working.

Only the women toiled.

At last, Glooscap, who ruled upon the earth in that time, became very angry because the men in these parts were so lazy, and he sent Famine into their country to punish them for their sins.

Famine came very stealthily into the land and gathered up all the corn and carried it off.