Cape Breton's Magazine

rolling logs. And how they'd get so mad. A sharp, sharp crack. Anko 'te'n. Anko'te'n. "Watch out! Watch out!" He's getting handier. That's when the old la? dies would say their prayers. Ask for some other help from somebody else--some other god form--not to let them come any nearer. And then it'd say, they'd make up a story--how this here lightning bolt was meant for them. Just happened that it turned to the right spirit. It hit a tree over there. And of course, the slivers from a tree that was blasted by lightning would be the greatest thing for curing toothache and all that. Kind of weird beliefs. And what is it that--something like acu? puncture, I guess! And people believe, if you believe in any? thing strong enough. Like people believe in miracles. Well, sure enough, miracles hap? pen to them. Something like Ste. Anne de Beaupr6. John Maloney, well, he was a vete? ran of the First War (was burned). Some people, they make sure they get up to Ste. Anne de Beaupr' and they get cured of all The Department of Community Services providing services and financial assistance to those who need them. For more about services and programs, contact your local office of the Department of Community Services listed in your telephone directory. Department of Community Services kinds of illnesses. Some people from Shube? nacadie went up there and came back feeling a lot better. Me and John heard about it-- they went by train. "It wouldn't do us any good because we don't believe in that. But if you believe in anything," he said, "very likely it could cure you." And it does cure you. It proves that mind is--what in the world do they call it? Mind is.... (Ruth Whitehead: Mind over matter?) Max chuckles. It's the power of the human mind. Old Will Rogers: "All I know is what I read in the papers." Power of the human mind.... Oh, tales. I often--no wonder they could tell stories, because there was no radio, no grammophone, or no nothing in the even? ings, when it got dark. Might keep the home fires, keep the bonfire going, inside a camp. If it was outside, good enough-- outside. Sitting all around it. And there would be nobody say anything. And then somebody would say, "Ke'skw a. Ke'skw a." Our thanks to Bernie Francis for tran? scription of the Micmac words according to Francis Smith orthography. Thanks as well to Pauline Bernard for her help with the Micmac words. The quillwork baskets are from Ruth Holmes Whitehead's beautiful book Micmac Quillwork. published by the Nova Scotia Museum. Readers are reminded that Part One of this talk with Max Basque is in Issue 51. Cop? ies are still available--see page 83. WE BUY AND WE SELL AND WE'RE AS NEAR AS YOUR TELEPHONE Sid's Used Furniture Phone 564-6123 ''''''43'Char1ott'treet'yd'' The only key to trouble-free and long car life is regular and careful maintenance. For over 25 years, maintenance • solely of European cars • has been our occupation. If you don't wish to maintain your car, neither do we!! If you do, we'd like to help! EUROCAR SERVICE LTD. 649 WESTMOUNT ROAD SYDNEY 564-9721 65