By Kyle Raney
Many years have
passed since we met with the Vanir, and we have traveled far and wide
throughout the world. Some among us, myself included, have even
traveled across the great expanse of ocean and landed in a new
world. In this new world we met with a very unique people.
They had brown skin and long, straight brown hair. They spoke a
new language and were very pleasant to live among. Here is our
story of how we came to be a part of the Algonquin...
When we arrived at the new land from our oceanic journey, we were relieved to find it comfortable and hospitable. In our new form that the Vanir of Iceland had given us, we found it simple enough to construct lodgings and gather food. After we had settled down and taken care of the necessities of a new home we began to explore our area deeply. It was during this time that I came into contact with a great man named Glooskap. He was much larger and much more powerful than any of my people. We talked for awhile about ourselves and our history. I soon learned that Glooskap was a great creator. He first created faeries of his own, from an ash tree. He then created men and beasts. I told him how we have traveled many places since our coming into the world, and that we had just arrived at his home. In hospitality I invited him to come to our homes and participate in a feast with us.
Glooskap very warmly agreed to join us and proceeded to follow me. There was a very large feast held in his honor, and there was singing and dancing that followed. During the festivities it came to my attention that Glooskap had fixed his eyes on the most beautiful of all the Elves. Her name was Summer, and she brought warmth and light to whomever she was with. After the party had settled down Glooskap stood up and walked over to her. They had a few words and Summer seemed to become upset. Then, to my utter astonishment, Glooskap tied her up with moose-hide cord and began to carry her off. All the Elves present tried to free her, but he was too strong and powerful for us. I decided that I would secretly follow Glooskap to find out where he was taking her.
We journeyed for a very long time, and always we were heading north. It grew colder and colder as we traveled on, with ice and snow becoming more thick and permanent. Forever I was behind Glooskap and Summer, trying to remain hidden. When we finally halted our trek we were in front of a wigwam of ice. Glooskap entered with Summer, and I slipped in behind the two and hid myself in a corner so I might remain unseen. It was after I had become settled in my hiding spot that I noticed another creature in the room. He was a giant, with an ice beard and hair made of snow. His complexion was all white, like a mountain of alabaster. When he spoke frost came out and seemed to lull a kind of laziness onto me and induce a sleepy state. I learned from Glooskap's conversation with the giant that his name was Winter.
It was after awhile that I learned why Glooskap had stolen Summer from us. It was with his own magic and with the help of Summer that Glooskap was able to drive Winter away. Slowly Winter started to sweat, and then the wigwam began to melt away until all was gone. It then seemed as if everything had awoke. The grasses began to grow, the birds to sing, and Glooskap's own faeries came out to play. The streams filled up and began to wash away the dead of Winter. Glooskap then left Summer there, and she seemed happy. I wanted to bring her back with me, but I saw what good she had done, and I did not want to awaken a feeling of homesickness within her. Thereupon I left, and went back south to the Elves, leaving Summer to play in the north.
Author's Note: This is an Algonquin story from the Northeastern United States. Glooskap is one of their Divinities, and there are many, many stories about him. The website that I found this story at is from the Sacred Texts website. In the original story, Glooskap goes and visits Winter and is lulled to sleep for six months. When he awakens, he travels to the south until he finds a group of faeries (Elves) dancing. He then sees their queen, Summer, and steals her away to the north to melt the Winter away. I wanted to do a story like this because I wished to show how stories about Elves from Native Americans and Europeans might have a relationship. I think it is interesting that in almost every culture there seems to be a reference to some sort of faery creature, no matter what the culture calls them. The English, Irish, Norse, Scandinavian, Finnish, Norwegian, German, and now Native Americans all have faery creatures that are like an elf in one way or another.
Bibliography:
WordIQ.com
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Elf
"How Glooskap Found the Summer"
The Algonquin Legends of New England (1884)
by Charles G. Leland
Sacred Texts Websight
When we arrived at the new land from our oceanic journey, we were relieved to find it comfortable and hospitable. In our new form that the Vanir of Iceland had given us, we found it simple enough to construct lodgings and gather food. After we had settled down and taken care of the necessities of a new home we began to explore our area deeply. It was during this time that I came into contact with a great man named Glooskap. He was much larger and much more powerful than any of my people. We talked for awhile about ourselves and our history. I soon learned that Glooskap was a great creator. He first created faeries of his own, from an ash tree. He then created men and beasts. I told him how we have traveled many places since our coming into the world, and that we had just arrived at his home. In hospitality I invited him to come to our homes and participate in a feast with us.
Glooskap very warmly agreed to join us and proceeded to follow me. There was a very large feast held in his honor, and there was singing and dancing that followed. During the festivities it came to my attention that Glooskap had fixed his eyes on the most beautiful of all the Elves. Her name was Summer, and she brought warmth and light to whomever she was with. After the party had settled down Glooskap stood up and walked over to her. They had a few words and Summer seemed to become upset. Then, to my utter astonishment, Glooskap tied her up with moose-hide cord and began to carry her off. All the Elves present tried to free her, but he was too strong and powerful for us. I decided that I would secretly follow Glooskap to find out where he was taking her.
We journeyed for a very long time, and always we were heading north. It grew colder and colder as we traveled on, with ice and snow becoming more thick and permanent. Forever I was behind Glooskap and Summer, trying to remain hidden. When we finally halted our trek we were in front of a wigwam of ice. Glooskap entered with Summer, and I slipped in behind the two and hid myself in a corner so I might remain unseen. It was after I had become settled in my hiding spot that I noticed another creature in the room. He was a giant, with an ice beard and hair made of snow. His complexion was all white, like a mountain of alabaster. When he spoke frost came out and seemed to lull a kind of laziness onto me and induce a sleepy state. I learned from Glooskap's conversation with the giant that his name was Winter.
It was after awhile that I learned why Glooskap had stolen Summer from us. It was with his own magic and with the help of Summer that Glooskap was able to drive Winter away. Slowly Winter started to sweat, and then the wigwam began to melt away until all was gone. It then seemed as if everything had awoke. The grasses began to grow, the birds to sing, and Glooskap's own faeries came out to play. The streams filled up and began to wash away the dead of Winter. Glooskap then left Summer there, and she seemed happy. I wanted to bring her back with me, but I saw what good she had done, and I did not want to awaken a feeling of homesickness within her. Thereupon I left, and went back south to the Elves, leaving Summer to play in the north.
Author's Note: This is an Algonquin story from the Northeastern United States. Glooskap is one of their Divinities, and there are many, many stories about him. The website that I found this story at is from the Sacred Texts website. In the original story, Glooskap goes and visits Winter and is lulled to sleep for six months. When he awakens, he travels to the south until he finds a group of faeries (Elves) dancing. He then sees their queen, Summer, and steals her away to the north to melt the Winter away. I wanted to do a story like this because I wished to show how stories about Elves from Native Americans and Europeans might have a relationship. I think it is interesting that in almost every culture there seems to be a reference to some sort of faery creature, no matter what the culture calls them. The English, Irish, Norse, Scandinavian, Finnish, Norwegian, German, and now Native Americans all have faery creatures that are like an elf in one way or another.
Bibliography:
WordIQ.com
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Elf
"How Glooskap Found the Summer"
The Algonquin Legends of New England (1884)
by Charles G. Leland
Sacred Texts Websight