By George Paul - Eskasoni, March 27, 2004
Edited by Daniel N. Paul
Most cultures have tales about their own little people. For example, the Irish have Leprechauns and we, the Mi'kmaq, have the Wiklatmu'j. In our folklore our little people, because they live in mountain caves, are known as the Stone People. In most cases, fictitious tales told by parents about the deeds they do, whether bad or good, are told to help children take the right path, or protect them from misadventure.
However, folklore or not, many Mi'kmaq people do believe that the Wiklatmu'j exist. And, they have a good idea about how they look, and how they act.
This is how historical writers describe them: They are small, but do big work. They live and dress like the old-time Mi'kmaqs and they speak Mi'kmaq. They live on Quebec�s Gaspe' Peninsula, on Tracadegash Mountain, and on Nova Scotia�s Cape Breton Island. They have small arms and legs and big bodies like bullfrogs. Like other supernatural beings, they can help, for instances, by giving a man furs, or warning him of coming evil, or harm, by performing bad tricks around the house and barn.
The Wiklatmu'j are only as tall as a three-year-old child, but are as swift as lightening. They are strong and sound like birds when talking to each other. They dress light, go barefoot, and smoke a pipe. The only apparent difference between the male and female, except, of course, biological difference, is their hair. They live in the woods, write on stone, eat meat, berries and fish, and like to dance, sing and play.
One thing you don't do is disrespect the Wiklatmu'j. They are strong and they can take you down no matter how big you are.
The legend of the Wiklatmu'j still remains strong in Mi'kmaq communities, especially in Eskasoni. Thus, not surprising, Eskasoni�s Mi'kmaq Center of Excellence has, for our enjoyment and preservation of our birthright, collected many stories of the people's encounters with the Wiklatmu'j. Some are modern, while others are more than 100 years old.
One old story is about a Mi'kmaq man who went hunting. He was travelling deep in the forest when he came upon two little people who asked, "What are you looking for, and where are you going?" The hunter said, "I�m looking for fur, and not going anywhere in particular."
As it was getting late, the Wiklatmu'j, showing a fine sense of hospitality, invited the hunter to stay overnight with them. To make up for taking him away from his work they promised that they would give him fur when he left. Accepting the invitation, he followed them through a door into a cliff.
Entering their village, the hunter was given a joyous welcome. He enjoyed their hospitality so much, especially the variety of fascinating games he played with them, that he stayed for two of their days. When the visit was over, as promised, the Wiklatmu'j gave him two bundles of fur to take home. When he arrived home, because he had been gone for two years, the family was shocked to see him, they had sadly come to believe that he had died in the forest.
A more recent story is about a girl name Mary Ann from Eskasoni. She lived near the beach and had learned about the Wiklatmu'j from her father. One day, near noon, in spite of the fact that her mother had warned her many times not to go there, she was playing at the top of a cliff overlooking the lake. She looked down and saw someone moving around near the shore.
Curious, she began to climb down to see who it was when, about half way down, she met a little man, a Wiklatmu'j. It gave her such a fright she fainted.
When she awoke, she was back on top of the cliff. Frightened, she started running for home and didn�t look back to see if the Wiklatmu'j was following. Upon arrival she was out of breath and had a sore side from running so fast. When her mother saw her, she noticed that her hair was all messed up and asked, "Where have you been, your hair is in such a mess?"
Mary Ann told her mom what had happened. Her mother responded: "That�s what happens to little girls when they disobey their mothers, you�re lucky the Wiklatmu'j didn�t take you with him." Mary Ann never again disobeyed her mother, or went back to the cliff alone.
The before mentioned are just a few of the scores of fascinating stories about individual Mi�kmaq encounters with the Wiklatmu'j, I hope you enjoyed them!
George Paul
