The Story of the Celestial Bear

The Mi'kmawey School in Chapel Island will be the official launch site for the childrens book "Muin aqq Lúiknek Te'sijik Ntuksuinu'k/Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters". The book launch will take place on January 20th at 11am followed by a community launch event at noon. Everyone is welcome to attend. the children's book is written by Lillian Marshall, Murdena Marshall, Prune Harris and Cheryl Bartlett with ilustrations by Sana Kavanagh and Kristy Read. The book is being published by Cape Breton University Press.

The children's book tells the story of The Great Bear. When the bear awakens from hibernation in late spring, it is chased across the heavens by seven birds. All summer long, the hunters chase the bear across the northern horizon. In the fall, with only three hunters left, the bear is struck by the hunters' arrows! As the bear rears up, then falls on its back, its blood drips down to Earth. The drops of falling blood turn the leaves red. During the long winter, the wounded bear lies on its back until its spirit enters another bear. When the next spring arrives, the newly enchanted bear starts fleeing across the sky, the next seven hunters in pursuit.