Mishipeshu - A legend almost Lost

There is currently a trend on TikTok where people share their creepy or paranormal experiences. I happened upon an account from a woman, who described her encounter with a shape-shifting entity.

Mishipeshu by carl ray in 1973

Most people have heard of the Wendigo, or the Navajo skinwalker, but the Mishipeshu is a brand of cryptid shapeshifter located around the Canadian shield.

Mishipeshu translates to “The Great Lynx,” but most people encountering this creature see it as a Black Panther. Some tribes refer to it as Gichi-anami'e-bizhiw ("Gitche-anahmi-bezheu"), which translates as "the fabulous night panther" in Ojibwe.

Regardless, sightings of this creature have sparked interest, as previously this story was mostly known as an oral tradition.

This woman’s encounter with the Mishipeshu is eerie and mirrors a story I know.

“The sun is pretty much set, and I see a Black Panther jump over the fence and come down, stand underneath the apple tree - it was so tall, that its shoulders almost came up to the first set of branches. Jet black fur. […]

And I’m standing there, mesmerized by this Black Panther, and it turns to me and looks at me, and it makes eye contact and on its head … it had a little patch of white fur.

I hear Maria stirring, she’s coming into the kitchen, and as she’s walking into the kitchen, the panther runs into the lake. I was like ‘There was a panther in our backyard.’ Maria’s like, it was just a housecat. I’m like no, its a panther.”

“Fast forward to later that night, I’m in bed, I hear the doorbell. […] I’m creeping down the stairs and she [Maria] lets this man in. He was wearing all black, very pale, and I hear him tell her basically hes a traveller who like, lost his way and needed to use our phone. […] As he’s leaving to go, he looks up at me cause I’m still sitting at the top of it [the stairs] and I see on his head, he has a little patch of white hair in the same spot the panther did.”

“And he looks at Maria and says, ‘Thank you for your help, its really easy to get lost in the shadows.’ And he leaves.

Artists rendition of mishipeshu

This account comes from Illinois, but many more similar stories can be found across Ontario.

Searching “Underwater Panther” brings up more accounts from across Turtle Island, and you can read the different encounters from different tribes.

The Mishipeshu lore intertwines with the Thunderbird myth, as the two cause natural disasters together if not placated by a traditional ceremony. Both are native to Lake Superior, which has its own morbid history of death without decay. Lake Superior is so cold and deep, there is a lack of bacteria at the bottom, so bodies simply do not decompose.

Historical accounts of Mishipeshu surround the copper that First Nations people were privy to finding thanks to this creature. One such account comes from a Jesuit missionary told a story about four Ojibwe men who took a canoe to visit the home of Mishipeshu for copper to heat their water.

The very second they pushed off land, a loud voice boomed around them, the water panther circling them and accusing them of stealing it’s childrens’ playthings.

Even though the men paddled furiously, they were overcome by the creature. Only one man made it back to land, able to share with his people what happened. He would later die from his injuries.

Photo taken by frank zurey

Visit this Mishipeshu pictograph at The Agawa Rock Pictographs, located at Lake Superior Provincial Park, 150km North of Sault Ste. Marie.

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Creature from the North - Megan Bannon

Bannon brings tales from their upbringing around Anemki Wejiw (Thunder Mountain). Hidden in the shadowy corners of the Canadian Shield, ancient and modern secrets wait to be told.

In an area of Canada where reality subverts itself - the lush greens of the bush, and the piercing white snow, blend together until there is no longer a horizon…

People hear things, smell things, see things…encounter things.

Thanks to being in proximity of this paranormal area during Bannon’s life, they have experienced and heard stories of encountering these peculiar entities. In this creepy corner of the internet, they will share some of those stories.

Paranoiacs beware, and proceed with caution…

Beyond the Veil…