Nine Micmac Legends

by Alden Nowlan, Shirley Bean (Illustrator)

This is a retelling of some of the best-known Mi'kmaq legends, including the Star Brides, the Invisible Boy and the Snow Vampire. Alden Nowlan's artful storytelling is accompanied by stunning line drawings by renowned First Nation artist Shirley Bear. First published in 1983, this book continues to be a cherished classic.

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Shayna June · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a really interesting window into a very different kind of story telling than I'm used to reading. The stories are short and the way they are written is simple which I have mixed feelings about. It seems there is a fair bit of westernization that has been applied to the retellings, but a simple text also makes it easy to imagine how an oral telling could be easily made unique to each storyteller. I think there is a story in here that served as the inspiration for the Disney animated feature Brother Bear, which was kind of interesting. My favourites were "The Captive" and "The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever" - both stories have excellent unhappy endings. I wish that there was more background given on the mythical personas and creatures, and am particularly motivated to research the figure Glooskap in the future.

[Thomas Henebury · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories themselves are fun but as the forward reflects on one has to wonder how influenced these retellings are as they were recorded after 250 years of European contact.

[Jeffrey Henning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, powerful stories from the Mi'kmaq people of Nova Scotia. I'd read one, then set it aside for a while before reading the next.

[Mgb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading folktales. These make me wonder….what happened next?

[Nick Hathaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book, you can learn a lot from this book for example the boy and the bears; Whats on the outside doesn't matter it's what's inside. I would say more but I don't want to spoil the book.

[Maria Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short collection of tales collected from the tribes along the eastern coast.