Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith) Speck
Wawenock Myth Texts from Maine
Forty-third Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1925-26, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1928, pages 165-198
"Wawenock Myth Texts from Maine" by Frank G. Speck is a collection of ethnographic writings that compiles mythological stories and cultural history from the Wawenock tribe, likely written in the early 20th century. The book aims to preserve the oral traditions and mythologies of the Wawenock, including tales of the cultural hero Gluskape and the tribe's history. It serves as a vital resource for understanding the cultural heritage of this lesser-known Native American tribe. At the start of the text, the introduction explains the Wawenock tribe's history, noting its dwindling population and the challenges faced in preserving its language and culture. Speck recounts his encounters with François Neptune, one of the last speakers of the Wawenock language, who provided valuable narratives about the tribe's traditions. The opening portion also teases fragments of the mythological storytelling to follow, highlighting the transformative power of figures like Gluskape and the relationship between the Wawenock and the natural world around them.