The Story
Long, long ago, the great hero Glooscap watched over all the lands and waters of the Mi'kmaq people. He was the most powerful being in the world. He had defeated terrible monsters, calmed raging seas, moved mountains with his hands, and outsmarted every creature that had ever challenged him.
One day, Glooscap boasted — just a little — that there was nothing in the world he could not conquer.
His grandmother, who was wise and quietly amused, said nothing. She only smiled.
Word spread, as word always does, and soon a great chief came to visit Glooscap. "I have heard," said the chief, "that you fear nothing and can defeat any foe. Is this true?"
"It is," said Glooscap proudly.
"Then come," said the chief. "There is one I would like you to meet."
He led Glooscap to a small birch-bark cradle, where a round-cheeked baby lay kicking its feet in the air. The baby looked at Glooscap with wide, curious eyes, then let out a tremendous wail.
Glooscap leaned in and made his most fearsome face — the face that had sent giants fleeing into the sea. The baby wailed louder. Glooscap spoke in his most commanding voice — the voice that had stilled storms. The baby only screamed harder and kicked its feet until the cradle rocked.
Glooscap tried singing. He tried dancing. He tried making funny noises. He tried sitting perfectly still. He tried everything he knew. The baby wailed through all of it, pausing only to catch its breath and then wail again.
At last Glooscap sat down heavily and looked at his grandmother, who was laughing behind her hand.
"What is this creature?" he asked.
"That," she said, "is Wasis. A baby. The one foe who has never been conquered and never will be."
Glooscap looked at the baby, who had stopped crying and was now blowing happy bubbles, unconcerned with heroes entirely.
From that day on, Glooscap was wiser and gentler, and a little more humble — and those who tell this story say that is the greatest victory he ever won.