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1300 Moons
1300 Moons is based on the life story of Saulteux Ojibwa Chief Kioscance or Young Gull who lived during the French régime in North America ca 1640-1748. It follows his life's journey from a youth through his years as a warrior, to great War Chief, to elder on the council. Young Gull led his people south after the Iroquois War to establish them at Aamjiwnaang at the foot of Lake Huron. The book contains a strong storyline, a sense of suspense with drama and good character development. Descriptions of places and events are compelling and engaging to the reader. It brings out many human elements of trust, pride, fear, accomplishment as well as feelings of love of land, territory and spirituality.
220 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2011
8 people want to read
About the author
David D. Plain
10 books13 followersDavid D. Plain is a member of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation (Ojibwa) and a grandson of Chief On The Plain. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto, Canada. Always a lover of history, he has devoted much time and effort to his family's genealogy and how it has affected the history of the Ahnishenahbek of Aamjiwnaang. David has published four titles through Trafford Publishing. One title, "The Plains of Aamjiwnaang" won a Golden Scribe Award for excellence in the non-fiction category in 2008 and it was also a Finalist in the 2014 Eric Hoffer Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 22, 2019
For me this book helped greatly with my research and understanding of the Niswi-mishkodewinthe or Council of Three Fires. I am writing a series of books and am currently researching the period from 1650 through 1700 and David's story about the Saulteaux Ojibway Chief Kioscance, or Young Gull has given me much-needed insight into this period and the indigenous and settler peoples that lived it.
August 27, 2013
1300 Moons
by David D. Plain
Trafford Publishing
reviewed by Cynthia Collins, The US Review of Books
"However, his eyes had dimmed and his body was all but spent. After all he had lived 1300 moons."
An elderly gentleman applies for a four-week position as storyteller at a Toronto museum. He gives his name as Mr. Nanabush and says he was recommended by the Assembly of First Nations. He is hired by a young woman named Karen to tell of legends and traditions of the Ojibwa people. On his first day of his new job, he begins a story of a young boy who grows up to become an Ojibwa chief known as Kioscance, or Young Gull. Each day, the story progresses through the chief's life: the Iroquois War, the coming of the white man, various battles, and his family life. The audiences continue to build, and Karen and her boss are pleased.
Throughout the four weeks, Karen witnesses mysterious events. Shadows of Ojibwa in traditional dress disappear on sight, and a timber wolf appears out of nowhere when Karen and her boss are confronted by would-be robbers. Every time the two try to speak to Mr. Nanabush, they either are detained due to unforeseen meetings or the storyteller vanishes. They go to the Assembly of First Nations office to try to get some answers and discover that they have been in the midst of an Ojibwa prophecy.
The author is a member of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. He has taken nonfiction stories of his great-great-great grandfather Young Gull, 1640-1748, and introduced them within a surrounding fictional premise. This is not a history book with specific dates of events. It flows back and forth, from present day to the past, without confusing the reader. Although the written text contains punctuation errors and omissions, the author's "storytelling" style provides a clear distinction between dialog and narrative. This would be for anyone who is interested in reading about either First Nations' general history or specific tribes such as Ojibwa, Huron, or Iroquois.
by David D. Plain
Trafford Publishing
reviewed by Cynthia Collins, The US Review of Books
"However, his eyes had dimmed and his body was all but spent. After all he had lived 1300 moons."
An elderly gentleman applies for a four-week position as storyteller at a Toronto museum. He gives his name as Mr. Nanabush and says he was recommended by the Assembly of First Nations. He is hired by a young woman named Karen to tell of legends and traditions of the Ojibwa people. On his first day of his new job, he begins a story of a young boy who grows up to become an Ojibwa chief known as Kioscance, or Young Gull. Each day, the story progresses through the chief's life: the Iroquois War, the coming of the white man, various battles, and his family life. The audiences continue to build, and Karen and her boss are pleased.
Throughout the four weeks, Karen witnesses mysterious events. Shadows of Ojibwa in traditional dress disappear on sight, and a timber wolf appears out of nowhere when Karen and her boss are confronted by would-be robbers. Every time the two try to speak to Mr. Nanabush, they either are detained due to unforeseen meetings or the storyteller vanishes. They go to the Assembly of First Nations office to try to get some answers and discover that they have been in the midst of an Ojibwa prophecy.
The author is a member of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. He has taken nonfiction stories of his great-great-great grandfather Young Gull, 1640-1748, and introduced them within a surrounding fictional premise. This is not a history book with specific dates of events. It flows back and forth, from present day to the past, without confusing the reader. Although the written text contains punctuation errors and omissions, the author's "storytelling" style provides a clear distinction between dialog and narrative. This would be for anyone who is interested in reading about either First Nations' general history or specific tribes such as Ojibwa, Huron, or Iroquois.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews