Glooscap’s journeys reshaped Wabanaki landscape and ecology for human benefit.

Evidence

Glooscap’s journeys across the land are tales of MAKING and TEACHING. As he traveled, he shaped the landscape (certain rocks, islands, and features of the Wabanaki country are his work or his footprints); he made the animals their right size (in one tale, taming a giant beast that was too dangerous, or shrinking creatures that threatened the people); he defeated monsters and selfish beings who hoarded what should be shared — in a famous tale, defeating a greedy giant frog-monster who had selfishly dammed and hoarded all the water, so that the streams and rivers flowed freely again for everyone. He taught the people how to hunt and fish, how to make things, and how to live in balance and respect with the natural world. And then, his work of shaping and teaching done, Glooscap journeyed away — paddling off in his canoe toward the dawn, or retreating to the edge of the world — but with a promise (like so many culture-heroes) that he would return someday if his people truly needed him. — , A Year of World Stories, 15154