by Rick Revelle
Glooscap, told by E’s the story of how Scar (Jilte’g) gained the trust and respect of his people in his becoming a warrior, now realized why the Mi’kmaq people respected and followed Jilte’g.
Later, Glooscap is told the story of Crazy Crow by Jilte’g. Crazy Crow’s bravery was so extreme it gained the respect of his enemies, and the saving of another warrior’s life by putting his own life at risk during this adventure was the supreme test of a warrior.
When warriors go on the warpath they will only follow men who will bring them back alive. On a hunt, again they will only follow men who they are confident will bring them success during the hunt. If they do not trust the leader to do these things, they will not follow him.
In this novel, set during the 1300s, Percé Rock has three arches. The erosion of the ocean eliminated one of the arches, and that is what we see today.
The Vikings’ use of a floating board was a pelorus, an ancient sea compass. During cloudy days, they used a sunstone made from Icelandic spar (crystal) to navigate.
Wolverines were eradicated in New Brunswick after the arrival of the Europeans.
Porcupines are not native to Newfoundland, and thus Glooscap would be seeing one for the first time on his hunt with the Mi’kmaq warriors.
ALGONQUIN GLOSSARY
For an Algonquin talking dictionary, please go to www.hilaroad.com/camp/nation/speak.html.
Àbita
Half
Achgook
Snake
Àgimag
Snowshoes
Agwanìwon
Shawl Woman
Amik
Beaver
Àmò-sizibàkwad
Honey
Àndeg
Crow
Anìbìsh
Tea
Anìbimin
Cranberries
Animosh
Dog
Anokì
Hunt
Asab
Net
Asinabka
Place of glare rock (Chaudière Falls)
Asin
Stone
Asticou
Boiling rapids (also Chaudière Falls)
Awsìnz
Animal
Àwadòsiwag
Minnow
Azàd
Aspen
Gichi-Anami’e-Bizhiw
The Fabulous Night Panther
Guhn
Snow
Haudenosaunee
Iroquois
Ininàtig
Maple
Ishkodewan
Blaze
Kabàsigan
Stew
Kàg
Porcupine
Kànikwe
No Hair
Kekek
Hawk
Kìgònz
Fish
Kije-Manidò
the Great Spirit
Kìjik
Cedar
Kijìkà
to go
Kìnà Odenan
Sharp Tongue
Kìnà
Sharp
Kinebigokesì
Cricket
Kishkàbikedjiwan
Waterfall
Kitcisìpi Sìbì
Ottawa River
Kitcisìpiriniwak
People of the Great River
Kòn Tibik-Kìzis
Snow Moon, February
´Lenepi
Delaware
Magotogoek Sìbì
Path That Walks (St. Lawrence River)
Magwàizibò Sìbì
Iroquois River (Richelieu River)
Mahingan
Wolf
Makadewà
Black
Makwa
Bear
Maliseet
Malècite
Mandàmin
Corn
Manidò
Spirit
Me´hiken
Mahican
Michabo
The Great Hare, Trickster God, inventor of fishing
Mìgàdinàn
War
Migiskan
Hook
Minoweziwin
War Dance
Mishi-pijiw
Panther
Mitig
Tree
Mitigomij
Red Oak
Mònz
Moose
Name
Sturgeon
Namebin
Sucker
Nasemà
Tobacco
Nìj
Two
Nigig
Otter
Nika
Goose
Nokomis
Mother Earth
Odàbànàk
Toboggan
Odawàjameg
Salmon
Odenan
Tongue
Odìngwey
Face
Odjìbik
Root
Odjìshiziwin
Scar
Ogà
Pickerel, Walleye
Omàmiwinini
Algonquin
Omìmì
Pigeon
Onagàgizidànibag
Plantain
Onigam
Portage
Ouendat
Huron
Pakìgino-makizinan
Moccasins
Pangì
Little
Pênâ-kuk
Pennacook
Pibòn
Winter
Pikwàkogwewesì
Jay
Pimizì
Eel
Pine
Partridge
Pìsà
Small
Shangweshì
Mink
Shàwanong
South
Shìshìb
Duck
Shìbàskobidjige
Set a net under ice
Tendesì
Blue jay
Wàban
Dawn
Wàbanaki
Abenaki
Wàbananang
Morning star
Wàbek
Bear
Wàbidì
Elk
Wàbine-Miskwà Tibik-Kìzis
Pink Moon, April
Wàbìsì
Swan
Wàbòz
Rabbit
Wàginogàn
Lodge, home
Wàwàshkeshi
Deer
Wàwonesì
Whip-poor-will
Wegimindj
Mother
Wìgwàs chìmàn
Birch bark canoe
Wolastoqiyik
Maliseet
ALGONQUIN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
From www.native-languages.org/algonquin_guide.htm.
Vowels
Character:
How To Say It:
a
Like the a in what.
à
Like the a in father.
e
Like the a in gate or the e in red.
è
Like a in pay.
i
Like the i in pit.
ì
Like the ee in seed.
o
Like the u in put.
ò
Like the o in lone.
Diphthongs
Character:
How To Say It:
aw
Like ow in cow.
ay
Like eye.
ew
This sound does not really exist in English. It sounds a little like saying the “AO” from “AOL” quickly.
ey
Like the ay in hay.
iw
Like a child saying ew!
ow
Like the ow in show.
Consonants
Character:
How To Say It:
b
Like b in bill.
ch
Like ch in chair.
d
Li
ke d in die.
dj
Like j in jar.
g
Like g in gate.
h
Like h in hay, or like the glottal stop in the middle of uh-oh.
j
Like the ge sound at the end of mirage.
k
Like k in key or ski.
m
Like m in moon.
n
Like n in night.
p
Like p in pin or spin.
s
Like s in see.
sh
Like sh in shy.
t
Like t in take.
w
Like w in way.
y
Like y in yes.
z
Like z in zoo.
HURON GLOSSARY
Achie
White ash
Öndawa
Black ash
Önenha
Corn
Tsou’tagi
Beaver
MI’KMAQ GLOSSARY
For the Mi’kmaq talking dictionary, please go to www.mikmaqonline.org.
Apigjilu
Skunk
Apistanéwj
Marten
Apji’jgmuj
Black duck
Apli’kmuj
Rabbit
Apsalqigwat
Have small eyes
Ap’tapegijit
Turkey
Atu’tuej
Squirrel
Bootup
Whale
E’s
Clam
Eli’tuat
Men with Beards
Elue’wiet
Crazy
E’pit
Woman
Ga’qaquis
Crow
Gaqtugwan
Thunder
Gajuewj’j
Kitten
Puglatm’j
A little person
Gesga’t
Lost
Gespe’g
Lands End
Gespe’gewa’gi
People of the Last Land
Gisu’lgw
Creator
Gitpu
Eagle
Giwnig
Otter
Glmuej
Mosquitoes
Gomgwejg
Sucker fishes (plural)
Guntew
Rock
Gtantegewinu
Hunter
Imu’j
Dog
Jenu
Giant
Jilte’g
Scar
Ji’nm
Man
Jipji’j
Bird
Ki’kwa’ju
Wolverine
L’nu’k
The People
Lentug
Deer
Lentug’ji’j
Fawn
Magisgonat
Big nose
Matnaggewinu
Warrior
Matues
Porcupine
Matuesuei
Porcupine meat
Megwe’g
Red
Mg’sn
Shoe
Migjigi
Turtle
Mui’n
Bear
Musigisg
Sky
Na’gweg
Day
Natigòsteg
Forward Land (Anticosti Island)
Negm
Bloody
Nukumi
Grandmother
Penamuikús
Birds lay eggs, April moon
Sabawaelnu
Half Way People
Saqpigu’niei
I am shedding tears
Siggw
Spring
Stogon
Balsam tree
Ta’s’ji’jg
Little bit
Tagawan
Salmon
Tepgig
Night
Tia’m
Moose
Tmawei
Tobacco
Wikuoms
Wigwams
MI’KMAQ PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
From www.native-languages.org/mikmaq_guide.htm.
Vowels
Character:
How To Say It:
a
Like the a in father.
á
Like a only held longer.
e
Like the e sound in Spanish. In English, the Micmac pronunciation sounds like a cross between the vowel sounds in met and mate.
é
Like e only held longer.
i
Midway between the vowel sounds in hit and heat.
í
Like the i in police, only held longer.
i
Schwa sound like the e in roses.
o
Like the o in note.
ó
Like o only held longer.
u
Like the u in tune.
ú
Like u only held longer.
Diphthongs
Character:
How To Say It:
aw
Like ow in cow.
ay
Like eye.
ew
Sound does not really exist in English. It sounds a little like saying the “AO” from “AOL” quickly.
ey
Like ay in hay.
iw
Like a child saying ew!
Consonants
Character:
How To Say It:
j
Like ch in char or j in jar.
k
Like k in skate or g in gate.
kw
Usually it is pronounced like qu in queen, but at the end of a word, it is pronounced more like a k with a puff of air after it.
l
Like l in light.
m
Like m in moon.
n
Like n in night.
p
Like p in spill or b in bill.
q
Guttural sound that does not exist in English. Like ch in German ach or g in Spanish saguaro.
qw
Guttural sound that does not exist in English. Usually it is pronounced q and a w together, but at the end of a word, it is pronounced more like a q with a puff of air after it.
s
Like s in Sue or z in zoo.
t
Like t in sty or d in die.
w
Like w in English way.
y
Like y in English yes.
MOHAWK GLOSSARY
For the Mohawk talking dictionary, please go to www.ohwejagehka/mohawk.
Algonquin
Bark Eaters
A’no:wara
Turtle
Andagaron
The middle Mohawk village of the three main ones
Anèn:taks
Porcupine
Atiron
Raccoon
Caniaderi Guarûnte
Door of the Country (Lake Champlain)
Ennisko:wa
Much lateness moon, March
Erhar
Dog
Hahgwehdiyu
Mohawk Creator
Kahònsti
Black
Kaniatarowanenneh
Big Waterway (St. Lawrence River)
Kanien’kehá:ka
People of the Flint, Mohawk
Kanonhsehs
longhouse
Karònya
Sky
Kayènkwire
Arrow
Kionhekwa
Three Sisters
Kohsera’kène
Winter