Five Islands

In this video Gerald Gloade shares what is likely to be the best known Kluskap story.

Five Islands, Nova Scotia, is perhaps best known as the setting for the famous Kluskap story where Kluskap tries to drive away Giant Beaver by throwing five great sods of mud into the bay.

Continuing the association between basalt formations found in the Annapolis Valley and Mi’kmaw toolstones to the north side of the Minas Basin, Long Island is one of the Five Islands that contains toolstone material from which our ancestors fashioned tools.

Continuing the association between basalt formations found in the Annapolis Valley and Mi’kmaw toolstones to the north side of the Minas Basin, Long Island is one of the Five Islands that contains toolstone material from which our ancestors fashioned tools.

The central island, Long Island (shown below at low tide), also has cultural significance because of the stone it contains. The line of volcanic basalt that runs the length of the Annapolis Valley to Blomidon and crosses under the Bay of Fundy, pops up here at Long Island. Our ancestors used the veins of knappable stone found in the basalt to make tools, like scrapers, knives and projectile points.

One response to “Five Islands”

  1. Liz Lightfoot says:

    I have grown up in the valley all my life and even own a cottage in Medford Beach on the bay of Fundy. I love reading and learning about our great land and the ledgends.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *