5 First Nation Legends: Sacred Elements (French Reader's Theatre)

This bundle entirely in French from Chez Nathalie is a series of plays based on sacred elements in 5 First Nation legends. Each legend also includes a text which explains the sacred element in question (PRINCIPLES: circle, number 4, dreams, PLANTS: tobacco, three sisters - beans, corn, squash), a summary of two other legends on the same theme at the end of the document as well as discussion questions. The titles and basic plot lines are the following:

SACRED PRINCIPLES

Le capteur de rêves (Ojibwe – dreams): A hunter is haunted by nightmares and his nation is on the brink of famine after a wizard casts a spell. A spider helps him break the spell by means of a dreamcatcher, which allows him to have good dreams, hunt successfully and save his people.

Glooscap et Géant Hiver (Micmac – circle): The Micmac Nation risks extinction due to an extremely cold winter. The Creator (Glooscap) and Princess Summer confront Old Man Winter and order him to make a milder winter and accept the princess’s visit each summer.

Les quatre vœux (Abenakis – number 4): Four men ask the Creator Gluskonba to grant them a wish. He gives a small pouch to each one of them and tells them to open it at their homes. Only one man benefits from his wish, as the other men do not follow the instructions.

SACRED PLANTS

Gluskabe et le vol du tabac (Abenakis – tobacco): Gluskabe’s grandmother is sad that there is no more tobacco. When her grandson learns that a selfish wizard (Grasshopper) grows it solely for his purposes, he steals the tobacco, shares it with everyone and punishes Grasshopper.

Les trois sœurs (Mohawk – beans, corn, squash): Three plants grow up together and are happy. Two hunters discover them one day, and Bean disappears during the night. The hunters return, and Squash and Corn disappear in turn. They are finally reunited at the hunters’ home.

You can purchase the plays individually as well for $2.50 each. BUY ALL FIVE PLAYS AT A REDUCED PRICE! 5 FIRST NATION LEGENDS ON SACRED ELEMENTS for only $10.00!