Gluskonba and the Maple Trees

In early times, the Creator gave humans the gift of maple syrup. They could eat as much as they liked by simply breaking off a twig. Gluskonba, who had been given the power to change things, decided to visit the humans. When he arrived, he saw the humans abusing the Creator's gift and not taking care of each other or their village.

He decides to remind humans of what is important. They are instructed to return to and repair their village and go back to their normal life. But now to enjoy maple syrup meant days of intense work gathering sap and boiling each batch. The villagers come to realize that Gluskonba had given them a gift even sweeter than maple syrup--the reward of community and people coming together for a common goal.

Presenting two separate tales, one in English and one in Abenaki, clearly illustrates the differences in communication styles between the two languages. The Abenaki-based version is especially valuable for anyone who is actively involved in language reclamation efforts. Both versions are faithful to the heart and the message of the story.

Joseph Bruchac is a Native American author from Greenfield Center, New York, and a citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. He earned his PhD in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio and began writing to preserve Native American stories and pass them along to his sons. Today, Joseph is a professional storyteller and writer and has received many awards and honors. His work is often drawn from his Native American heritage and the Adirondack region of New York State. Joseph has written more than 180 books, three for 7th Generation: Walking Two Worlds, Found, and The Long Run, with more in the works. He plays several instruments, including the hand drum, Native American flute, and the double wooden flute. He often performs with his sons, James and Jesse, and still lives in the house in Greenfield Center where he was raised by his maternal grandparents.

James Bruchac is a citizen of the Nulhegan Coosuk Band of the Abenaki Nation and director of the Ndakinna Education Center. He has a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Skidmore College and is an award-winning author, traditional storyteller, and outdoor educator. James is a lifelong martial artist and is a black belt instructor in both Kyokushin karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. For more than three decades, James has traveled around the country visiting countless schools, storytelling festivals, and environmental centers. He has run hundreds of youth camps and shared stories, wilderness skills, and Native American games through Ndakinna Education Center. A skilled musician, James performs with his father, Joseph Bruchac, his aunt, Marge Bruchac, and his brother, Jesse, as part of The Dawnland Singers.

Jesse Bruchac is a citizen of the Nulhegan Coosuk Band of the Abenaki Nation. Jesse learned the language directly from the last generation of First Language speakers and has taught the language for over 30 years. Jesse is the director of Middlebury College Language School of Abenaki. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Maine and an instructor and language specialist at the Ndakinna Education Center. A prolific songwriter, Jesse has released six albums and over 60 songs. Use of his original music has been a primary driver of thriving community-based language reclamation. He has shared the stage with Joanne Shenandoah, Bill Miller, and Kevin Locke; performed at Woodstock '94; and, as a member of the Dawnland Singers, opened for The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan. Jesse has also worked extensively in television, film, and radio as a language coach and has scored original music for National Geographic, Carnival Films, Discovery Channel, The Science Channel, Fox Entertainment Group, AMC, PBS, and BBC Radio 3.

Amy Hook-Therrien grew up in Chelsea, Vermont, where she formed deep connections with the forests surrounding her. She studied art at the University of Maine in Orono, earning a BFA with a concentration in painting. After her graduation, Amy returned to rural Vermont to immerse herself in nature and painting. Amy has been featured in numerous publications and has shown her work in galleries throughout New England. In 2019, she was granted the Abenaki Artists Association's Artist of the Year award, and since 2022 she has been the Artist in Residence at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, Vermont. Amy is currently focusing on watercolor landscape painting that portrays nature's tranquility and fragility.