what kind of stone did glooscap use to make a nevk

A Micmac Creation Story

A Micmac Legend

This story has been passed downward from generation to generation since time immemorial and it explains how Micmac people came into existence in North America.

The story tells almost the relationship between the Great Spirit Creator and Human Beings and the Environs. It too explains a philosophical view of life which is indigenous to North America. This way of thinking is axiomatic in the Native Languages and Cultures and in the spiritual practices.

The fact that the Micmac people's language, culture and spiritualism has survived for centuries is based on the cosmos story. Respect for their elders has given them wisdom about life and the world around them. The forcefulness of their youth has given them the will to survive. The love and trust of their motherhood has given them a special agreement of everyday life.

Amongst the Micmac people, the number seven is very meaningful. In that location are vii districts for singled-out areas which encompasses an area of land stretching from the Gaspé coast of Quebec and includes New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

The near powerful spirit medicine is fabricated from seven barks and roots. Vii men, representatives from each distinct expanse or Grand Council District sit down inside a sweat-lodge fume the pipe and burn the sweet grass. Within the sweat-lodge, the Micmacs volition cascade water over seven, fourteen and and so twenty-1 heated rocks to produce hot steam. A cleansing or purification takes place. A symbolic rebirth takes place and the men give thanks to the Spirit Creator, the Sun and the Earth. They besides give thanks the commencement family, Glooscap, Nogami, Netaoansom, and Neganagonimgoosisgo.

Listen to the story...

one GISOOLG

Gisoolg is the Great Spirit Creator who is the one who made everything. The give-and-take Gisoolg in Micmac means "yous accept been created". Information technology besides means "the one credited for your existence".

The word does not imply gender. Gisoolg is not a He or a She, it is non important whether the Slap-up Spirit is a He or a She.

The Micmac people practice not explain how the Dandy Spirit came into being just that Gisoolg is responsible for everything being where it is today. Gisoolg made everything.

2 NISGAM

Nisgam is the sun which travels in a circle and owes its beingness to Isoolg. Nisgam is the giver of life. Information technology is also a giver of light and oestrus.

The Micmac people believe that Nisgam is responsible for the creation of the people on Earth. Nisgam is Gisoolg's helper. The power of Nisgam is held with much respect amongst the Micmac and other aboriginal peoples. Nisgam owes its existence to Gisoolg the Bully Spirit Creator.

iii OOTSITGAMOO

Ootsitgamoo is the Earth or area of state upon which the Micmac people walk and share its abundant resources with the animals and plants. In the Micmac language Oetsgitpogooin means "the person or individual who stand up upon this surface", or "the one who is given life upon this surface of land". Ootsitgamoo refers to the Micmac world which encompasses all the area where the Micmac people can travel or have traveled upon.

Ootsitgamoo was created by Gisoolg and was placed in the center of the circular path of Nisgam, the sun. Nisgam was given the responsibility of watching over the Micmac world or Ootsitgamoo. Nisgam shines bright light upon Oositgamoo every bit information technology passes around and this brought the days and nights.

4 GLOOSCAP

Afterward the Micmac globe was created and after the animals, birds and plants were placed on the surface, Gisoolg caused a bolt of lightening to striking the surface of Ootsitgamoo. This bolt of lightning caused the formation of an paradigm of a human trunk shaped out of sand.

It was Glooscap who was first shaped out of the basic element of the Micmac earth, sand. Gisoolg unleashed another bolt of lightening which gave life to Glooscap simply even so he could non motion. He was stuck to the ground only to watch the world get past and Nisgam travel across the heaven everyday.

Glooscap watched the animals, the birds and the plants grow and pass around him. He asked Nisgam to give him liberty to move nigh the Micmac earth.

While Glooscap was yet unable to movement, he was lying on his back. His caput was facing the direction of the rising dominicus, east, Oetjgoabaniag or Oetjibanoog. In Micmac these words mean "where the sunday comes upwards " and "where the summer weather comes from" respectively. His feet were in the direction of the setting sun or Oetgatsenoog. Other Micmac words for the west are Oeloesenoog, "where the dominicus settles into a hallow" or Etgesnoog "where the cold winds come from". Glooscap's right mitt was pointed in the management of the north or Oatnoog.

His left mitt was in the direction of the s or Opgoetasnoog. And so it was the tertiary big blast of lightening that acquired Glooscap to get complimentary and to be able to stand on the surface of the Earth.

Subsequently Glooscap stood up on his feet, he turned around in a full circumvolve seven times. He and then looked toward the sky and gave thanks to Gisoolg for giving him life. He looked down to the Globe or the ground and gave thank you to Ootsigamoo for offering its sand for Glooscap'due south creation.

He looked within himself and gave cheers to Nisgam for giving him his soul and spirit. Glooscap and so gave thank you to the iv directions east, due north, w and s. In all he gave his heartfelt thanks to the vii directions.

Glooscap and then traveled to the direction of the setting sun until he came to the ocean. He then went south until the land narrowed and he came to the sea. He then went south until the land narrowed and he could come across two oceans on either side. He once again traveled back to where he started from and continued towards the north to the land of ice and snow. Subsequently he came dorsum to the east where he decided to stay.

It is where he came into existence. He again watched the animals, the birds and the plants. He watched the h2o and the heaven. Gisoolg taught him to watch and learn nearly the globe. Glooscap watched only he could not disturb the earth around him. He finally asked Gisoolg and Nisgam, what was the purpose of his beingness. He was told that he would meet someone soon.

5 NOGAMI

One day when Glooscap was traveling in the east he came upon a very quondam woman. Glooscap asked the erstwhile adult female how she arrived to the Micmac globe. The old adult female introduced herself equally Nogami. She said to Glooscap, "I am your grandmother". Nogami said that she owes her existence to the rock, the dew and Nisgam, the Sun. She went on to explicate that on one chilly forenoon a rock became covered with dew considering it was sitting in a low valley. By midday when the sunday was virtually powerful, the rock got warm and then hot. With the power of Nisgam, the lord's day, Gisoolg's helper, the stone was given a torso of an old adult female. This old woman was Nogami, Glooscap's grandmother.

Nogami told Glooscap that she come to the Micmac world as an sometime woman, already very wise and knowledgeable. She further explained that Glooscap would proceeds spiritual forcefulness by listening to and having great respect for his grandmother. Glooscap was so glad for his grandmother's arrival to the Micmac world he called upon Abistanooj, a marten pond in the river, to come ashore.

Abistanooj did what Glooscap had asked him to practise. Abistanooj came to the shore where Glooscap and Nogami were continuing. Glooscap asked Abistanooj to give upwardly his life and so that he and his grandmother could live. Abistanooj agreed. Nogami then took Abistanooj and speedily snapped his cervix. She placed him on the ground. Glooscap for the showtime time asked Gisoolg to use his ability to give life dorsum to Abistanooj considering he did not want to exist in disfavor with the animals.

Because of marten's cede, Glooscap referred to all the animals as his brothers and sisters from that bespeak on. Nogami added that the animals will always be in the globe to provide nutrient, wearable, tools, and shelter. Abistanooj went back to the river and in his place lay another marten. Glooscap and Abistanooj will become friends and brothers forever.

Nogami cleaned the animate being to get it prepare for eating. She gathered the notwithstanding hot sparks for the lightening which hitting the footing when Glooscap was given life. She placed dry wood over the coals to make a fire. This fire became the Cracking Spirit Fire and later become to be known as the Great Quango Fire.

The kickoff feast of meat was cooked over the Bang-up Burn, or Ekjibuctou. Glooscap relied on his grandmother for her survival, her knowledge and her wisdom. Since Nogami was old and wise, Glooscap learned to respect her for her knowledge. They learned to respect each other for their continued interdependence and continued beingness.

6 NETAOANSOM

Ane mean solar day when Glooscap and Nogami were walking along in the woods, they came upon a swain. This young man looked very potent because he was tall and physically large. He had gray colored eyes. Glooscap asked the beau his name and how he arrived to the Micmac globe. The swain introduced himself.

He told Glooscap that his proper name is Netaoansom and that he is Glooscap'south sister's son. In other words, his nephew. He told Glooscap that he is physically strong and that they could all live comfortably. Netaoansom could run after moose, deer and caribou and bring them downwardly with his blank easily. He was so strong.

Netaoansom said that while the east air current was blowing and so hard information technology acquired the waters of the body of water to get crude and foamy. This cream got blown to the shore on the sandy beach and finally rested on the tall grass.

This tall grass is sweet grass. Its fragrance was sweet. The sweet grass held onto the foam until Nisgam, the Sun, was high in the midday heaven. Nisgam gave Netaoansom spiritual and physical strength in a human body. Gisoolg told Glooscap that if he relied on the strength and power of his nephew he would proceeds strength and understanding of the world around him.

Glooscap was and then glad for his nephew's inflow to the Micmac world, he called upon the salmon of the rivers and seas to come to shore and give up their lives. The reason for this is that Glooscap, Netoansom and Nogami did non want to kill all the animals for their survival. So in celebration of his nephew'southward inflow, they all had a banquet of fish. They all gave thanks for their existence. They continued to rely on their brothers and sisters of the wood and waters. They relied on each other for their survival.

7 NEGANOGONIMGOSSEESGO

While Glooscap was sitting well-nigh a burn, Nogam was making clothing out of fauna hides and Netaoansom was in the wood getting nutrient. A woman came to the fire and sat beside Glooscap. She put her arms around Glooscap and asked "Are you lot cold my son?" Glooscap was surprised he stood up and asked the woman who she is and where did she come from. She explained that she was Glooscap'due south mother. Her name is Neganogonimgooseesgo. Glooscap waited until his grandmother and nephew returned to the burn then he asked his mother to explain how she arrived to the Micmac globe.

Neganogonimgooseesgo said that she was a leafage on a tree which brutal to the footing. Morning dew formed on the leafage and glistened while the dominicus, Nisgam, began its journey towards the midday sky. It was at midday when Nisgam gave life and a homo form to Glooscap'south female parent. The spirit and strength of Nisgam entered into Glooscap's mother.

Glooscap's mother said that she brings all the colors of the world to her children. She also brings strength and understanding. Forcefulness to withstand World's natural forces and understanding of the Micmac world; its animals and her children, the Micmac. She told them that they will need agreement and co-operation so they all can live in peace with ane another.

Glooscap was so happy that his mother came into the world and since she came from a leaf, he called upon his nephew to gather nuts, fruits of the plants while Nogami prepared a feast. Glooscap gave thanks to Gisoolg, Nisgam, Ootsitgamoo, Nogami, Netaoansom and Neganogonimgooseesgo. They all had a feast in award of Glooscap'south mother's arrival to the world of Micmacs.

The story goes on to say that Glooscap, the man created from the sand of the Globe, connected to alive with his family for a very long time. He gained spiritual strength by having respect for each member of the family. He listened to his grandmother' s wisdom. He relied on his nephew' south force and spiritual ability.

His mother' s love and agreement gave him dignity and respect. Glooscap' due south brothers and sisters of the wood and waters gave him the will and the nutrient to survive. Glooscap now learned that mutual respect of his family unit and the world around him was a key ingredient for basic survival. Glooscap'south task was to pass this cognition to his fellow Micmac people so that they too could survive in the Micmac world. This is why Glooscap became a central figure in Micmac story telling.

Ane day when Glooscap was talking to Nogami he told her that before long they would leave his mother and nephew. He told her that they should fix for that occasion. Nogami began to get all the necessary things prepare for a long journey to the North. When everyone was sitting around the Great Burn down one evening, Glooscap told his mother and nephew that he and Nogami are going to exit the Micmac globe. He said that they volition travel in the direction of the North but to return if the Micmac people were in danger. Glooscap told his mother and nephew to await subsequently the Swell Burn and never to let it go out.

After the passing of vii winters, "elwigneg daasiboongeg", seven sparks volition fly from the fire and when they country on the ground seven people volition come to life. Seven more sparks will land on the ground and seven more people will come up into existence. From these sparks volition form seven women and 7 men. They will form seven families. These seven families will disperse into seven different directions from the area of the Swell Burn. Glooscap said that in one case the seven families their place of destination, they will farther divide into vii groups.

Each group will have their ain area for their subsistence so they would not disturb the other groups. He instructed his female parent that the smaller groups would share the Earth's abundance of resources which included animals, plants and fellow humans.

Glooscap told his mother that after the passing of seven winters, each of the seven groups would return to the place of the Great Fire. At the identify of the fire all the people volition dance, sing and drum in commemoration of their continued existence in the Micmac world. Glooscap continued past saying that the Great Burn down signified the power of the Great Spirit Creator, Gisoolg. It besides signified the power and force of the calorie-free and heat of Nisgam, the lord's day. The Bully Burn down held the strength of Ootsitgamoo the Earth. Finally the fire represented the bolt of lightening which hit the Earth from which Glooscap was created. The fire is very sacred to the Micmacs. It is the most powerful spirit on World.

Glooscap told his mother and nephew that information technology is important for the Micmac to give honor, respect and thank you to the seven spiritual elements. The burn signifies the get-go 4 stages of creation, Gisoolg, Nisgam, Oositgamoo and Glooscap. Burn plays a meaning role in the terminal three stages every bit information technology represents the ability of the sun, Nisgam.

In honor of Nogamits arrival to the Micmac world, Glooscap instructed his mother that vii, fourteen and twenty-one rocks would have to be heated over the Neat Burn down. These heated rocks will be placed within a wigwam covered with hides of moose and caribou or with mud. The door must face the direction of the rising sun. There should be room from vii men to sit down comfortably around a pit dug In the center where up to xx-one rocks could be placed. Seven alders, 7 wild willows and 7 beech saplings volition be used to make the frame of the lodge. This lodge should be covered with the hides of moose, caribou, deer or mud.

Seven men representing the seven original families will enter into the social club. They will give thanks and award to the seven directions, the seven stages of creation and to continue to alive in good health. The men will pour water over the rocks causing steam to rise in the lodge to get very hot. The men volition begin to sweat upward to signal that it will become almost unbearable. Simply those who believe in the spiritual strength volition be able to withstand the heat. Then they will all come up out of the lodge full of steam and shining like new born babies. This is the way they will clean their spirits and should award Nogamits arrival.

In training of the sweat, the 7 men will not eat any food for seven days. They will only drink the water of gold roots and bees nectar. Before entering the sweat the seven men will burn the sweetness grass. They will honor the seven directions and the 7 stages of creation but by and large for Netawansom's inflow to the Micmac world. The sweet grass must be lit from the Keen Fire.

Glooscap'due south mother came into the earth from the leaf of a tree, so in honour of her arrival tobacco made from bawl and leaves will exist smoked. The tobacco will be smoked in pipe fabricated from a branch of a tree and a bowl made from rock.

The pipage will be lit from sweet grass which was lit from the Great Fire. The tobacco fabricated from bark, leaves and sweet grass represents Glooscap'south grandmother, nephew and mother. The tobacco chosen "spebaggan" will be smoked and the fume will exist blown in vii directions. Afterward honoring Nogami's arrival the Micmac shall have a feast or meal. In laurels of Netawansom they will eat fish. The fruits and roots of the copse and plants will be eaten to honor Glooscap'due south mother.

Glooscap'due south terminal instruction to his mother told her how to collect and prepare medicine from the barks and roots of vii different kinds of institute. The seven plants together make what is called "ektjimpisun". It will cure mostly every kind of illness in the Micmac world.

The ingredients of this medicine are: "wikpe" (alum willow), "waqwonuminokse" (wild black-cherry), "Kastuk" (ground hemlock), and "kowotmonokse" (red spruce).

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Source: https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/MicmacCreationStory-Micmac.html

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