24 Gluskabe and Old Man Winter
“I do not like your fire. Your fire is not warm. It is cold.”
Reflection
I am Gluskabe. I am a helper of people. I know what is needed, and I do what needs to be done. I am loving and benevolent. I am wise. My wisdom is in valuing the words of my grandmother. I listen, and carefully, I prepare. I am aware. From the Great Creator, I am born, and I too create. I give life - and I see things right.
Gluskabe and Old Man Winter
Abenaki
Lets’ Begin
Once, long ago, in northern New England, the wind was howling. Near the frozen river, snow was piled high against birchbark wigwams, and Gluskabe sat with his Grandmother Woodchuck. Wrapped tightly in blankets, they tried to keep warm as they talked. A small fire was crackling. As Grandmother, Woodchuck, listened to her grandson, she smiled. She was old and wise, and she knew that it was Gluskabe’s job was to help people, and that soon he would be off again on another adventure. As they talked, a traveler approached, and they welcomed him into their wigwam to sit with them by the fire. He was a human. He was there asking for help. “The winter is too cold and has lasted for too long,” he said. “If it lasts much longer, we will all die,” he reasoned.
Gluskbe agreed. After the traveler left, Gluskabe thought about the problem. He decided to go to the wigwam of Old Man Winter to ask him to go back to his home in the Winter Land to the north. Grandmother Woodchuck smiled and nodded.
And so Glusake traveled to the home of Old Man Winter who sat in his wigwam, “warming” his hands over his fire made of ice. Gluskabe was welcomed warmly, and talked with Old Man Winter. He explained to him how the people were suffering. He asked Old Man Winter to return to his home in the Winter Land. But, Old Man Winter did not like what he heard. He cast Gluskabe out of his wigwam and put a spell over him, causing him to sleep. Glusabe slept but was finally awakened by the sun, cold as it was. Though he knew he was defeated, he returned to his home to talk with his wise grandmother, confident that this was not the end, and that he would find a way to help the people.
Gluskabe explained to his grandmother that he talked with Old Man Winter, but that the old man did not listen. He assured her that he would talk to him again and that he would make him listen. With consideration, he had an idea, “Tell me Grandmother, where does the warm weather come from?”
Grandmother smiled and pulled the blankets tighter around her shoulders as she told him of Summer Land. “Yes,” she said, “all of our warmth comes from Summer Land. The people there have a giant pot of summer. They dance around it. They also have four giant crows that guard it.” She carefully explained to her grandson, “To go into their camp would be dangerous. The people there are different. They are greedy and do not want to share their warmth.They look different too, and it would be hard to fit in. They only have one eye. If you take summer from them, the crows would swoop down upon you and snatch your head off your shoulders.” Grandmother Woodchuck shuddered.
Gluskabe listened carefully to his grandmother and decided to go there to bring summer to the people in need. And so using information given to him from his wise grandmother, he prepared to go to Summer Land. He covered one eye so that he would look like the people there. Also, he carried four balls with him. He had an idea of how to trick the four giant crows.
He traveled far and finally reached Summer Land.
When he arrived, just as his grandmother described to him, the people of Summer Land were dancing around their pot full of summer. They were singing a song. And just as his grandmother warned, Four Crows stood guard. Gluskabe entered quietly and joined the people in the dance. Thanks to his eye covering, he did not raise suspicion. As Gluskabe neared the pot of summer, he reached in, and grabbed one of the summersticks. And then, as fast as he could, he began to run. He ran, and he ran. The people of Summer Land shouted all around him. They called on the crows to pull off his head.
The crows swooped down. They were enormous! But Gluskabe was prepared. He reached into his pouch and pulled out one of the balls. One by one, as each crow swooped down on him, Gluskabe held up one of the balls, and lowered his head. And one by one, the crows fell for his trick. They grabbed the ball instead of his head, and because of this, he had time to get away safely.
With the summer stick in hand, Gluskabe returned to talk to Old Man Winter.
Gluskabe walked up to Old Man Winter’s wigwam, holding the summerstick in his hand, he tapped on the door, and was once again invited to enter Old Man Winter’s wigwam and to sit by his fire of ice.
Upon entering, Gluskabe at once sat down, and placed the summerstick in front of Old Man Winter and said, “You must go back to your home in Winter Land.” Laughing, Old Man Winter asked Gluskabe if he liked his fire. Gluskabe did not waiver. He replied, “Your fire is dying old man. Your wigwam is melting away. You are growing weak. It is time for you to go.”
“You can not defeat me!” Old Man Winter growled. But even as he said this, his power drained away.
And so, Old Man Winter’s reign collapsed, and he withdrew to Winter Land and summer returned to the people. But because Gluskabe only retrieved one stick of summer, winter still returns each year.
Adapted from
Pushing up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children Paperback – Illustrated, August 27, 2019
by Joseph Bruchac (Author), Teresa Flavin (Illustrator)
Following the Journey of the Hero: Gluskabe.
A Nobel Birth into an Ordinary World
In this story, I did not learn about the birth of this character. I did a little reading and discovered that the dust from the Great Creator’s body created Gluskabe and his twin brother, Malsumis.
Separation
The Call to Adventure
What calls the hero to take action?
The needs of the people.
The Refusal of the Call
Why is this hero not following his heart fully as the story begins?
There is no refusal
The Mentor and Supernatural Aid
Who helps guide the hero to begin the quest?
Gluskabe is aided by his wise grandmother, Grandmother Woodchuck. It is said that after Gluskabe was born before Nogami, the grandmother, and that he had a part to play in her birth.
The Crossing of the First Threshold
He moves out from his village to the wigwam of Old Man Winter and to Summer Land.
Initiation
Helper/Mentor/Follower
Grandmother helps him.
The Road of Challenges and Temptations
Gluskabe does not always get what he wants at first. He must dialogue and listen. He plans and acts proactively. He is successful through taking steps and preparing.
What is the defeat?
He is put to sleep but then is awaked by the sun.
Revelation - Death and Rebirth
How is the hero reborn?
He wakes up.
Return
Atonement
What atonement is made?
Gluskabe take a summer stick and uses it to defeat Old Man Winter.
The Gift/ Reward
Spring returns to the people. The cycle continues. The barrier freed.
And so the hero passed from the ordinary into the extraordinary and back again - home. But in the return, changed, transformed. And, bearing gifts for the community.
Questions
What important aspects of life are highlighted in this story?
Other than entertainment, what purpose could this story have?
How are you like this particular hero?
Blessings
Thank you for joining me today! I hope you have a beautiful day! Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you. Peace for now, and remember, stay CHARMED ~