For the Mi’kmaq, the creation of the world took place a very long time ago. It was Glooscap, who made the world habitable for humans. He created and shaped the landscape and gave animals their particular characteristics. Glooscap, the Mi’kmaq hero, taught them many things including the names of plants, animals and stars

A very long time ago, Mother Earth was just a sphere of water. Glooscap came from the sky in a great stone canoe. When he landed, the boat turned into a land now known as the Cape Breton [Nova Scotia]. Glooscap began to create all the animals and birds with this land. He created ​​them much larger than they are today. At that time, beavers were the size of bears. Glooscap continued his work and created humans. He fired four arrows in four white ash trees. From this the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet and Mi’kmaq Peoples were born. He then told them what to hunt for and how to gather food. With his goals achieved, Glooscap had to leave. Before leaving the Earth for the Sun, he gathered the Peoples and told them they could always find him if they looked for him.

Author: Service national du Récit de l’univers social

Quickly check your knowledge: