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Bethany Berger, Sara Godfrey, Sadik Mussah
represents the Southern direction and the soul. The leaves are cleaned from the stems and separated into small pieces, which are used in many ways. When burned, Keezhik acts as a purifier, cleansing the area in which it is burned and emitting a pleasant scent. True cedar is burnt while praying to the Great Mystery in meditation, and also to bless a house before moving in. Cedar was offered to the fire to smudge the lodge and people. It is also used to waft the smoke to ward away sickness.
An Indian wizard. Koondao (Koon-day'-o) could change himself to a stone or rock. Winpe (Win'-pee) a wizard ruling over the North Sea. Chenoo (She-noo') a giant-sized wizard; a cannibal giant.
Culloo (Cull-oo') a monster bird into which certain wizards could transform themselves.
It represents the Eastern Direction and the mind. The Anishinaabe use a form of tobacco known as kinikinik, or a red willow mix. Because it opens the door to the creator, When tobacco is used to make smoke, it is one of the most sacred of plants for Native people. Some elders say that tobacco is used to connect the worlds since the plant’s roots go deep into the earth, and its smoke rises high into the sky
It is considered sacred because it is symbolic of purification. It represents the Northern direction and the body. The elders tell us that scent of these natural herbs is pleasing to the creator and will incline him to hear the ceremony with favor. The smoke is considered distasteful to all evil beings and thwarts their powers. This plant plays an important part in ceremonies of spiritual significance. When Weengush is used in ceremony, each person is to fan the sweet grass smoke, first to their heart, second to their mind, third around their body and lastly, return the smoke to their heart.
(or Odzihozo): A mythological being, sometimes known as the Transformer, who created himself from nothing and formed Lake Champlain and its surrounding landscape. His name literally means "he makes himself from something unknown or unspecified" and is pronounced ood-zee-hoh-zoh.
Thunder brothers. Different forms of the story say it’s either seven brothers or a whole tribe. Regardless, they are warriors and the sound of their battles is what we know to be thunder. Lightning comes from their eyes. In many stories, the brothers marry into native families
it is burned as a purifier, but when compared to the "piney" scent of cedar, sage has a spice air. Shkodawabuk represents the Western direction. Sage is used by the original peoples to make their prayers, to signal the creator of one's need for help. There are many varieties of Sage and all are effective in smudging. Smudging is a way of using the smoke from burning herbs to cleanse the body, an object, or a given area of negative influences.
Whale, another animal spirit that serves Gluskabe by carrying him across the ocean. Pronounced boo-dup.
(also known as Gitaskog, Msaskog, or Pitaskog): An underwater horned serpent said to lurk in lakes and eat humans. All of its names are variants on the meaning "great serpent" or "big serpent." Pronounced tah-toh-skog or gee-tah-skog.
A huge, monstrous creature resembling an enormous stiff-legged bear with an oversized head. Some folklorists believe Abenaki legends about this creature may have been inspired by mammoth fossils. Its name means "great beast" and is pronounced gih-chee ah-wahss.
This name, which simply means "wolf" in Abenaki, is sometimes said to belong to an evil wolf who is Gluskabe's twin brother. However, some Abenaki elders have been adamant this is not a real Abenaki myth. It may be an Anglo corruption of Great Lakes Algonquian legends instead-- their culture hero does have a twin brother who is a wolf (though he is not evil.) In any case, "Malsum" is pronounced mawl-sum in Abenaki.
This means "Great Spirit" in Abenaki, and is the Abenaki name for the Creator (God,) who is sometimes also referred to as Dabaldak. Gichi Niwaskw is a divine spirit who is never personified in Abenaki folklore. Pronounced similar to gih-chee nih-wahsk
Gluskabe
Gluskabe is the benevolent culture hero of Abenaki mythology, who taught the people the arts of civilization and protected them from danger. Like other Abenaki names, "Gluskabe" has many spelling variants (Glooscap, Kluskap, etc.) The Abenaki pronounciation is glue-skaw-buh. Gluskabe shares some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Anishinabe Nanabosho, Blackfoot Old-Man, and Cree Wisakejak, and many of the same stories are told in different Algonquian tribes with only the identity of the protagonist differing.