My myth magazine for grade 9 english

1. Myth Magazine Monthly All the latest mythological and quest related news!!

2. Mythology Magazine Monthly Contents Myth of the Month Original How Myth Page 3 Quest Review Quest Pattern Page 4 Henson the Hero: Former slave turned Human Rights Activist Real life Hero Report Page 5- 10 Our Sponsor Advertisement Page 11

3. Why Do Humans Blink When They Sneeze? An Original How Myth By: Jared McNabb Long, long ago the Huron nation lived in amongst the many islands of Georgian Bay. These people were peaceful and resourceful and were guarded by the giant god, Kitchikewana. However, when the ‘white man’ began to frequent the lands of the Huron many strange events began. The Huron believed that these events occurred because Kitchikewana was angry with them. They thought that the reason for his anger was because the Huron were adopting ‘white man’ ways such as drinking ‘fire water’ and learning the white man’s tongue. Soon after the arrival of the ‘white man’, one village on Beausoleil Island began to be plagued by demons. The demons would enter people’s bodies and make them very sick. Stricken people would have difficulty breathing because their noses would be full of mucus. The Huron found that the only way to rid themselves of the demons was to sneeze. In those days people always kept their eyes open when they sneezed. This was a problem because the Huron people thought that these demons were horrifying and they were even afraid to catch sight of them, so most people refused to sneeze. The people of the village prayed to Kitchikewana for forgiveness. After many nights of prayer and song, Kitchikewana appeared to the villagers one starry night in August. He asked the people to promise to protect their language and traditions. He also promised in return that he would reveal a way to rid themselves of the demons that made the people so ill while avoiding seeing them. The villagers promised to maintain their ways and language. Kitchikewana said that he would return in one year to ensure that their promise was kept. Kitchikewana was pleased upon his return. The Huron maintained a friendship between the ‘white man’ but also kept their promise to maintain their traditions and language. With that, Kitchikewana gave the villagers the ability to close their eyes when they sneezed. In this way they could rid themselves of the demons and avoid seeing them. To this day, humans have learned this ability and have adapted it for their own. Back To Table of Contents

4. HOME: Luke Skywalker lives in a house in the desert with his aunt and uncle on the planet Tatooine. Quest Review: Star Wars A New Hope Return (rewards): Luke and his followers are awarded medals for their acts of heroism and are now highly respected by the Rebel forces. Journey Away (why go): Luke’s aunt and uncle buy two droids known as C-3PO and R2-D2 not knowing that R2 have plans to a ship known as the Death Star. They are killed by the Empire who is looking for the plans. Having nowhere else to go and wanting revenge against the Empire Luke travels with an old Jedi, Obi-Wan, C-3PO and R2-D2 to a planet know as Alderaan where the plans will be put to use by a group who opposes the Empire known as the Rebels. Obstacles: Luke and the Rebels must escape the blast, which is a result of the Death Star being destroyed. Obstacles: The planet Alderaan was destroyed by the Empire before Luke and followers could get to it. They are captured by the Empire but manage to escape at the cost of Obi-Wan’s life. Crucial Struggle: Luke and his friends must now help the Rebels that are beginning an attack on the Death Star in spaceships. They face off against the Death Star’s defences and Luke must battle Darth Vader, Lord of the Empire, in his spaceship. Despite the odds Luke manages to destroy the Death Star Back To Table of Contents

5. Josiah Henson Hero Research Assignment By: Jared McNabb Josiah Henson was an important figure in Black Canadian history and an historic hero. He made many different and significant contributions. First, he founded the first all black public elementary school in Canada. He also was an outspoken abolitionist and helped the Underground Railroad as a conductor. Finally, he recruited men, particularly black men, to fight in the American Civil War. Josiah Henson Early Life Although he was successful and renowned in his later years, he had a very hard and challenging childhood. Josiah Henson was born a black slave in Maryland, U.S. in 1789. As a young boy, he experienced the injustice and cruelty of being a slave. First, at the age of three, he watched as his father was assaulted by their overseer and sold to a new owner. Next, when Henson was five or six years old, he was sold again to a Kentucky farmer, Isaac Riley, with his mother who kept him with her by begging the plantation owner even though she was assaulted for this. His brothers and sisters were sold off to other slave owners. Henson’s early memories were full of tragedy and unimaginable violence. Even as a child, Henson showed courage, which demonstrated him to be a hero. Back To Table of Contents

6. Josiah Henson Adult Life His life as an adult slave was not much better than his childhood. When Henson was twenty, a savage beating broke both his shoulders. He was thought to be a valuable slave and became manager of the plantation he lived on. Two years later, he married an enslaved woman named Charlotte and became a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In an attempt to become a free man, Henson made a deal with his master to buy his freedom. His master later backed out of the agreement and decided to sell Henson. Josiah decided at that point that he did not want to be separated from his family. In 1830, he fled with his wife and four children, taking only a parcel of food and twenty-five cents. He carried the youngest children in a sack on his back. By day, the family hid from slave catchers and they travelled by night for six weeks. Finally, with the help of the Underground Railroad, they crossed into Upper Canada. Henson believed that Canada would be a safe place for himself and his family. His determination to remain with his family and become free shows heroism. Back To Table of Contents

7. Josiah Henson Accomplishments While adjusting to his newfound freedom, Josiah Henson decided to help many other enslaved people escape. He became a conductor in the Underground Railroad. He acted as a guide and travelled with runaway slaves to help them escape. In 1841, Henson moved with his family and settled near Dresden in western Ontario where he bought land and helped establish an all-black settlement called Dawn for fugitive slaves. His efforts to help others become free were noble and heroic. Since it was illegal in the United States to teach black slaves to read and write, Henson believed that getting an education should be a priority for blacks in Canada. However, prejudice stood in the way of black education. Under Canadian law, black people were allowed to send their children to schools. Unfortunately, blacks were not readily welcome into white public schools in Canada. There were other problems that prevented blacks from going to school. Some fugitives were too poor to send their children to school and needed them to work to help support the family. Others who were not used to equal rights with whites were too afraid to ask for schooling opportunities. Also, black children were unused to the cold Canadian climate and they were not clothed properly and were often too sick to go to school. To overcome these problems, Josiah Henson and Hiram Wilson, both black reverends, decided to set up a school for black children. They received funding for this school from abolitionist Quakers in England and from Canadian government school funds. This school was called The Dawn Institute. To further those goals, the school bought another 300 acres close by. Back To Table of Contents

8. Josiah Henson Accomplishments Continued Fugitive slaves who heard of this school, moved to the area and built homes on the institute’s land. The area around the institute was forested with valuable black walnut trees and Henson set up a sawmill so that the settlers could support themselves while their children went to school. Within ten years, the community and the school were a thriving success. With his knowledge and belief of the importance of education, Henson was a hero to fugitive slaves as he offered them an opportunity to better themselves. In 1861, the American Civil War broke out and at first blacks were prevented from participating in the war. A year later, the American government changed its policy with an Act Of Congress and permitted recruitment of black soldiers. The call to free their American brothers was felt strongly in Canada particularly by black Canadians. About 30,000 of them took the Underground Railroad in reverse to join the Union army. Josiah Henson helped recruit men from Canada to serve in black Union regiments. Without his assistance, many former slaves would not have had the opportunity to fight to free others. Henson, for them was a hero. Henson told stories about his life to writer, Harriet Beecher Stowe. He became the inspiration to the Uncle Tom character in Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was published in 1852. This novel sold 300, 000 copies in just its first year and helped raise awareness about the brutality of slavery. Henson also wrote a book about his own life. He travelled across North America and to England, giving speeches and meeting people to continue his fight against slavery. Josiah lived until 1883 and became the first person of African descent to be featured on a Canadian stamp in 1983. He continued to fight against slavery until his death. Henson enabled many people to understand the injustice of slavery. He remained heroic in these efforts. Back To Table of Contents

9. Josiah Henson Josiah Henson was truly a hero to many, particularly black slaves. He was heroic as a young slave, persevering violent acts and injustices. His determination and bravery helped him to become free and stay with his family. He demonstrated heroism in helping slaves gain freedom, education and a safe place to live. With his assistance in helping blacks fight in the American Civil War and his lifelong efforts in speaking against slavery, Josiah Henson continued to be a hero to many until his death. Back To Table of Contents

10. Josiah Henson Bibliography Alexander, Ken and Glaze, Avis. Towards Freedom The African-Canadian Experience. Umbrella Press, Toronto, Canada, 1996. Carson, Mary Kay. The Underground Railroad For Kids - From Slavery to Freedom. Chicago Review Press Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Henson May 26, 2011. http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_ABC/ Plaque_ChathamKent19.html May 26, 2011. http://www.rbhs208.org/sumread06.htm May 26, 2011. http://www.uncletomscabin.org/ May 26, 2011. Kallen, Stuart. A. Life on the Underground Railroad. Lucent Books, San Diego, CA, 2000. Back To Table of Contents

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