Common Figures in Indigenous Stories by Scott Moreau

Known as a trickster, Nanabush plays a dual role in Indigenous oral traditions. On the one hand, he protects and even creates life. On the other, he is associated with mischief and breaking the rules.

scmoreau — 2022-03-01 14:20:45 UTC

He is a shapeshifter: He appears as diverse personalities and forms – including a raven, a coyote and a hare – which represent the various phases and conditions of the life cycle in some Indigenous cultures.

scmoreau — 2022-03-01 14:21:05 UTC

Nanabush is a supernatural being of various Indigenous oral traditions (cultural hero). He appears prominently in many origin tales.

scmoreau — 2022-03-01 14:22:38 UTC

Wolverine

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Kuekuatsheu is the Innu Wolverine, a conniving trickster character who lies, cheats, is greedy, and basically acts completely inappropriately by Innu standards-- usually in the funniest possible way. Unlike Wolverine characters in some Algonquian mythologies, Kuekuatsheu is not malevolent, violent, or dangerous, and Innu stories about him are usually humorous in nature. Sometimes they involve a lot of bathroom or bedroom humor, though. One Innu Carcajou myth which is told with more reverence is the creation of the earth, which Kuekuatsheu accomplishes with the help of Mink (or in some communities, Muskrat.)

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Whether they were caught stealing food or seen manipulating their foes, coyotes became known for their ability to trick others in order to advance their own agenda.

Coyote is a key figure in Navajo mythology, representing both good and evil, humans and gods, and of course animals. He is unpredictable and am- bivalent, a characteristic of all these beings.

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Glooscap is considered to be the first human, a great and powerful being who shapes landscapes and shrinks or grows the animals around him.

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One day a pregnant sky woman drops through a hole created by an uprooted tree and begins to fall for what seems like eternity. Coming out of darkness, she eventually sees oceans. The animals from this world congregate, trying to understand what they see in the sky.

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A Turtle's back becomes Sky Woman's home and the plants she's brought down with her from Skyworld, including tobacco and strawberries, are her medicine. She makes a life for herself and becomes the mother of Haudenosaunee life, as we know it today.

Great spirit or creator

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The Great Spirit is the concept of a life force, specifically as Wakan Tanka in Lakota, Gitche Manitou in Algonquian, and by other, specific names in a number Native American and First Nations cultures

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Mother Earth is both the physical manifestation and embodiment of creation and the great spirit manitou who created it Walking in harmony with the world is extremely important to the Anishinaabe culture and explains, in part, why there are so many Aboriginal people in constant distress these days

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Mother Earth may refer to: The Earth goddess in any of the world's mythologies. Mother goddess. Mother Nature, a common personification of the Earth and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life

In Anishinaabe teachings, Grandfather sun is...

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The sun, Mishomis, Or grandfather sun, which with the help of "grandmother moon" or the moon, with mother earth, are said to be the providers of which gift us life, Grandfather sun brings the earth close each morning giving the the gift of warmth and sun to all of its creation.

He sings his song of illumination and enlightenment from the great east of the great medicine wheel.

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Sun is referred to as our mishomis Or grandfather,Sun is also known as giizis in Anishinaabemowin. As Earth is continually rotating around him, Grandfather Sun brings forward the morning to give light and warmth to all of creation

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Wesakechak. Wesakechak is one of the most famous Cree heroes. There are hundreds of endless stories about him. He is a joker, always playing jokes on his brothers and sisters, the animals, plants and rocks.

Grandmother Moon

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In indigenous culture everything in creation has spirit and the Moon is no exception, Grandmother is the spirit of the moon and great respect is paid to her.
Grandmother moon controls the waters of earth, tides and female life. She is especially close to Woman and governs the cycle of menstruation also known as Moontime, where woman can cleanse themselves, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.