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Bilingual, English and Abenaki

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.

Joseph Bruchac and his sons are citizens of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. Joseph is highly acclaimed writer, storyteller, and one of the founders of the Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers and Storytellers.
James Bruchac is an author, storyteller, and culture and wilderness educator. He has run hundreds of youth camps through the Ndakinna Education Center. His website is jamesbruchac.com.

Jesse Bowman Bruchac is an author, language teacher and coach, media cultural consultant, and a musical composer. His website is jbruchac.com.

Amy Hook-Therrien grew up in Chelsea, Vermont. She studied art at the University of Maine in Orono, earning a BFA with a concentration in painting. Amy has been featured in numerous publications and has shown her work in galleries throughout New England.