Welcome to the mythology of Canada's Indigenous peoples. Here, we will explore the rich and wonderful indigenous stories that have been passed down through generations. So, sit back and relax.

Indigenous mythology varies greatly between tribes in America. Each tribe had their own stories, beliefs, and myths that explained how they viewed the world around them. Many oral stories were passed down through generations before colonialism, when the indigenous population still owned the majority of the land. Stories about good and bad spirits, stories of legendary warriors, and hunters were common.

Indigenous people's stories were more than just tales; they contained insights, warnings, dangers, knowledge, and wisdom. The Old Americas was a dangerous world, populated by large beasts, and the once mighty and revered ‘Thunderbird’, which could swoop down and carry a full-grown person away. Or packs of large wolves that are heavier than two-men roaming the land. The indigenous people also had to contend with natural elements such as wind, rain, snow, and heat. Without any modern gadgets, shelter or weapons. It would appear that life would be unbearable at this time, but these stories were passed down by the people, indicating that they were more than just entertainment; they were a way of life.

Without further ado, let's dive into mythology. We'll start with "the Algonquin people," one of Canada's largest indigenous tribes. They lived in New York, Ottawa, Nova Scotia, British Colombia, and all along northern part of Canada.

Algonquin Deities and Monsters:

The Creator

Kitchi Manitou, Gitche Manitou or Chemantou: Kitchi Mantou is the great spirit responsible for the creation of the universe. It is said that he created the sun, earth, water, and sky. Then he filled the newly created universe with all kinds of spirits, both good and evil. Kitchi Manitou is the god of harmony and life. It is believed that when the creator sleeps, the entire world goes dark, and when he wakes up, the sun rises.

Creator Myths

In the beginning, there was only the Creator. While the universe had nothing, the creator became bored and sparked his own creation, the sun. The sun drove away all darkness, but that wasn't enough; he went on to create other things such as the world, stars, water, clouds, and spirits. When the world was young, there was no land or ground for the spirits to roam because the earth was still all water. The creator commanded the great turtle "Tolba" to emerge from the ocean. The creator saw the vast land on the turtle's back and told the spirits, "Here is your home". At that point, the earth was in chaos, with no balance. Then The creator commanded that all spirits play a role in order for the world to remain balanced.

However, some stories from other Algonquin tribes suggest that the creator was angry with the spirits because they were erratic, wicked, and ungrateful for the life they were given. So the creator drowned the entire world and started again.

Great Turtle Island

Tolba: One of the largest and most powerful spirits that still remains on the Earth. The Algonquin and Iroquois people have long believed that a large turtle lives beneath the land and carries the land (continent) above seas on its back; it is an icon of life and a savior for all living animals. It was believed that the ground we walk on is actually the back of a turtle.

Turtle myths

Tolba is an incredibly wise and loving giant. However, the other spirits did not appreciate his help, love and treated him cruelly. Unable to tolerate the abuse, the Turtle submerged itself to drown out the negativity of the other spirits. For a while, spirits swam on open water with no land in sight, and many died until 'Michabo', the great rabbit, and her lover the Muskrat devised a plan to create their own land. The muskrat dove deep into the water, gathered dirt, rocks, and other matter, and concentrated it on the turtle's back, successfully recreating the land over time.

The Man-Eater

Wendigo or Windigo: It is often depicted as an immortal winter monster who hunts and stalks any animal to devour, especially humans. It was thought to be a cursed spirit that can possess any body (including animals) and once an animal or human is cursed, they show signs of insatiable hunger for flesh and blood. Indigenous people believed that if a man eats another man, even if it is for survival, he will be cursed with the Wendigo and will become animalistic and constantly hungry. 

Wendigo myths

Myths about the Wendigo have existed since time immemorial. The legends and myths surrounding this terrifying monster differ greatly between tribes, but one thing remains consistent: it is a monster with a voracious appetite. The wendigo represents the dark side of humanity, including murder, hatred, rage, and cannibalism. He also represents greed, as he can eat and eat without ever being satisfied. The wendigo legend has three recurring themes: cannibalism, starvation, and insanity. It was believed that whoever eats another human would be cursed with the wendigo, and that anyone with too much greed in their hearts would summon the wendigo. Wendigo is often associated with winter because in Ojibwe, his name means "the winter cannibal monster."

Other notable deities:

The Great Hare

Michabo: A shape-shifting deity, the hero-god of humanity and the creator of the land. It was thought that he created humankind by mating with a muskrat and he saved the rest of the spirits from death. He is the perfect combination of deity; his grandmother is the moon goddess, his mother is the sun goddess, and his father is the West Wind spirit, the father of all wind spirits. Michabo is often depicted as a cosmic rabbit, representing strength, courage, and great wisdom.

The Four-Wind Spirits

Wabun or Kabun: The east wind spirit, the youngest and most unpredictable of the four. It is depicted as a beautiful golden eagle.

Shawnodese: The south wind spirit is the laziest and relaxed of the four spirits. It is depicted as the (now-extinct) mountain lion or cougar.

Mudjeekeewis: The west wind spirit is the father of all wind spirits, and he is depicted as a bear.

Kabibonnokka: The north wind spirit, is the oldest sibling of the east and south wind spirits, also he’s one of the most powerful of the four wind spirits. He is depicted as large Buffalo.

The Four Wind Spirits' roles include changing the weather and moving and spreading energy across the land. They assist the creator by giving life to barren areas. They provide light, rain, and protection from the sun's powerful rays.

REFERENCES

Black, Meredith Jean. "Algonquin." The Canadian Encyclopedia (2024). 16 October 2024. <https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/algonquin>.

Huffman, Carla. "Michabo The Great Hare." myth symbols sandplay (2017). 16 October 2024. <https://mythsymbolsandplay.typepad.com/my-blog/2017/03/michabo-the-great-hare.html>.

Justo. "Unveiling the Rich History of Algonquin Indian Tribes: Exploring their Culture and Traditions." Native tribe Infro (2023). 16 October 2024. <https://nativetribe.info/unveiling-the-rich-history-of-algonquin-indian-tribes-exploring-their-culture-and-traditions/>.

Laura Redish, Director. "Algonquin Legends, Myths, and Stories (Algonkin)." (2020). 16 October 2024. <https://www.native-languages.org/algonquin-legends.htm>.

Leland, Charles G. "The Algonquin Legends of New England." scared-texts (1884). 16 October 2024. <https://sacred-texts.com/nam/ne/al/al05.htm>.

O'Neal, Shannon Leigh. "Algonquin American Indian Tribe Beliefs." The Classrom (2019). <https://www.theclassroom.com/algonquin-american-indian-tribe-beliefs-7457.html>.

Sutherland, A. "Michabo (Michabou) – Algonquins’ Great Spirit With Power Over The Earth." ancientpages.com (2024). 16 October 2024. <https://www.ancientpages.com/2024/08/06/michabo-algonquins-great-spirit-with/>.

The Enlightenment Journey. "The Legend of the Wendigo: A Terrifying Folklore." (2024). 16 October 2024. <https://theenlightenmentjourney.com/the-legend-of-the-wendigo-a-terrifying-folklore/>.

Kevin Moses is an award-winning videographer and director at the Montreal film festival in 2016, and at 26, he graduated from Algonquin College's professional writing program with the goal of becoming a published fiction writer. He has written and published several short stories that are popular among young readers. He recently published his new novel, "Dreams of Magic," which many readers found thought-provoking, epic, entertaining, inspiring, and heartwarming.