In the march of American history the European-American version of what took place in what the Abenaki call "N'dakinna" has long been heard; the Native voices have yet to be heard. Through this book, Land of the Shapeshifter, long silenced voices are once again heard. In the Land of the Shapeshifter author Stephen Berwick, uses interpretive short stories based on historical events as a guide to the world of Passaconaway and his descendants to explore the questions unanswered by the European-American perspective. Many of the stories take place from 1621 to 1692, a pivotal period in American history. Although there is peace, the peace is like a lid on a boiling pot. Much of the warfare that occurs later is based on what takes place during this time. Passaconaway, 17th century Great Chief of the Penacook (Penagok) Confederation as well as renowned Person-of-Medicine, was one of America's greatest peacemakers. To the Penacook people of central New Hampshire, Passaconaway was not only the Great Chief of the Penacook Confederation as well as Shapeshifter, he was and is the star that lights their universe and whose spirit will never die. A fierce warrior who defended the Penacook homeland against Mohawk and Mi'kmaq invaders, Passaconaway knew the futility of war. On the heels of war came a deadly disease that devastated much of present-day northeast New England and became known as the Great-Dying-Time. It was then that the greatest threat to Penacook peace and security arrived; the Pilgrims, followed nine years later by the Puritans. As English settlers encroached on his peoples' lands Passaconaway shape shifted from a formidable warrior into a peacemaker for not only the Penacook people of New Hampshire, but for the peoples of Massachusetts Bay Colony, as well, thereby making compassion and friendship his people's refuge against destruction. As the years passed that compassion and friendship would be threatened as land hungry settlers broke peace treaties and encroached further and further into the Penacook heartland. Although humiliated again and again; once when his son, Waolinasad (Wonalancet) was arrested and led by noose to jail in Boston, and again when over 110 years old he petitioned Boston for a few acres of land to live on, Passoconaway remained a steadfast friend. Why?

Land of the Shapeshifter

History

Berwick, Stephen W.F.

Americas

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

The Great Chief Babiwseso-Ogawinno, known today as “Passaconaway,” was a man whose spirit cannot be contained beneath a moldering stone. To the Penagok (Penacook) people of central New Hampshire he was and is the star that lit their universe and whose spirit will never die. What follows is not meant as veritable gospel but is merely a swirling bear’s eye view of what has been fancied of a great man’s passing along the trail of life in the time before time. Shapeshifter’s Peace is my vision of the Great Chief, Passaconaway…my interpretation of Passaconaway as a fellow human being. From the very onset I have wanted to explore how he as a flesh and blood man might have reacted to the catastrophic events taking place around him. I wanted to explore why a man who commanded the respect and esteem, not to mention awe, of so much of what is now central New England, chose not to engage the English settlers, but instead shapeshifted from a formidable warrior into a peacemaker.

Shapeshifter's Peace

Agiocochook, renamed Mt. Washington in 1820 to honor George Washington, is front and center in the collective psyche of New Hampshire identity and can be seen looming on the horizon from most heights of land in New Hampshire as well as well out to sea. Like Mt. Washington, New Hampshirites, are strong willed, unbending in a tempest and can create storms all by themselves. New Hampshirites are also as tough and in some cases as unmoving as the granite rock pile itself. In short, as a result of Agiocochook's majestic presence, New Hampshire is in the Shadow of Agiocochook. As in the two previous volumes, "Land of the Shapeshifter" and "Shapeshifter's Peace - Passaconaway's Path to Peace," "In the Shadow of Agiocochook - Stories from the Land of the Shapeshifter" is based on Native American oral histories, teachings and traditions, their shapes shifted to give new depth and understanding and to also fill in where gaps of knowledge exist. Some of the stories in this collection, such as "The Necklace," "A Moment of Kindness Remembered Forever" and "The Good, the Bad and the To Be Seen" were written about Stephen's ancestors and based on research of historical facts, as known at the time, and then expanded into the realm of possibility. The stories "Jibayskweda" and "the Ice Hearted Metee-kolen-ol" are loosely based on Abenaki legends. The poem "The Door" was written after the author's experience at Historical Deerfield that left him numb and unable to move as he stood in front of it, not realizing his personal connection to the event that resulted in the huge gash into the door. The powerful and provocative poem "Just Died Off" was written from the perspective of those Abenaki whose voice fails them in articulating the pain they feel inside their hearts for all that transpired during these past 400 years since the arrival of European settlers.

In the Shadow of Agiocochook: Stories from the Land of the Shapeshifter

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

Through this book, Land of the Shapeshifter, long silenced voices are once again heard. In the Land of the Shapeshifter author Stephen Berwick, uses interpretive short stories based on historical events as a guide to the world of Passaconaway and his descendants to explore the questions unanswered by the European-American perspective. Many of the stories take place from 1621 to 1692, a pivotal period in American history. Although there is peace, the peace is like a lid on a boiling pot. Much of the warfare that occurs later is based on what takes place during this time. Passaconaway, 17th century Great Chief of the Penacook (Penagok) Confederation as well as renowned Person-of-Medicine, was one of America's greatest peacemakers. To the Penacook people of central New Hampshire, Passaconaway was not only the Great Chief of the Penacook Confederation as well as Shapeshifter, he was and is the star that lights their universe and whose spirit will never die. A fierce warrior who defended the Penacook homeland against Mohawk and Mi'kmaq invaders, Passaconaway knew the futility of war. On the heels of war came a deadly disease that devastated much of present-day northeast New England and became known as the Great-Dying-Time. It was then that the greatest threat to Penacook peace and security arrived; the Pilgrims, followed nine years later by the Puritans. As English settlers encroached on his peoples' lands Passaconaway shape shifted from a formidable warrior into a peacemaker for not only the Penacook people of New Hampshire, but for the peoples of Massachusetts Bay Colony, as well, thereby making compassion and friendship his people's refuge against destruction. As the years passed that compassion and friendship would be threatened as land hungry settlers broke peace treaties and encroached further and further into the Penacook heartland. Although humiliated again and again; once when his son, Waolinasad (Wonalancet) was arrested and led by noose to jail in Boston, and again when over 110 years old he petitioned Boston for a few acres of land to live on, Passoconaway remained a steadfast friend. Why?

Parisburg Publishing

Shapeshifted Peace takes up where Shapeshifter's Peace left off.  The story begins with an overview of European reasons for colonizing as well as the "legal" documents that authorize the colonization.    Key English players are introduced from early New Hampshire history: men such as Rev. John Wheelwright and Captain Jonathon Danforth.  Then come events such as the accidental death of Reginald Jenkins; the marriage of Passaconaway's daughter that led to Whittier's romanticized version of the wedding "Bridal at Penacook."  From there we are observers of the Great Chief of the Penagok Confederation's uneasy peace with the English settlers and the death of the Great Chief at over 120 years of age and the assumption of duties by his son, Waolinasad.  The story takes place from 1621 to 1664 when Passaconaway is believed to have died.  This is a pivotal period in American history.  Although there is peace, the peace is like a lid on a boiling pot.  Much of the wars that later occur are based on what takes place during this time and the, in comparison to Passaconaway, rather short chieftainship of Waolinasad.

Shapeshifted Peace: Passaconaway's Pacification of Settlers

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Books by Berwick, Stephen W.F.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Berwick, Stephen W.F.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Land of the Shapeshifter

Shapeshifter's Peace

In the Shadow of Agiocochook: Stories from the Land of the Shapeshifter

Land of the Shapeshifter

Shapeshifted Peace: Passaconaway's Pacification of Settlers