Nova Scotia Archives

George Creed - Mi'kmaq Petroglyphs

Tracing of a petroglyph that may depict Glooscap and Winpe

Date: 1888

Petroglyph tracings N: Nondescript and unclassified #35. 1 negative. Marion Robertson's Rock Drawings of the Micmac Indians interprets this petroglyph as "Glooscap abd Winpe... This would seem to be the story of Glooscap and the evil wizard Winpe who was jealous of Glooscap and stole his old grandmother and little Marten, and went off with them when Glooscap was hunting. On his return Glooscap saw them far off over the water but waited long months before he want after Winpe. At last, calling a whale to carry him over the sea, he searched the shores and the land of Nova Scotia and went on to Newfoundland finder here and there the campsites of Winpe, indicated in the drawing by the row of stones, the bush, and diagram. As in all tales of evil, Glooscap overcame Winpe, rescued old grandmother and little Marten and returned with them to his wigwam on the great bluff of Blomidon." See MG 15 Vol. 12 E21 for a petroglyph that resembles the top right corner of this petroglyph.

Reference: George Creed - Petroglyphs Nova Scotia Archives MG 15 Vol. 15 N35

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