Indian languages * American Indian cultures * Native American Indian heritage

Native American Legends: Aglebemu

Name: Aglebemu
Tribal affiliation: Penobscot, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy
Alternate spellings: Aglabemu, Akwulabemu, Aglebemoo, Hahk-lee-be-mo, Ablegemoo, Ablegemu
Pronounced: ah-gluh-beh-moo
Also known as: Mitche-hant, Kci Cekolhs, Kci-Coqols, Giant Frog, Monster Frog
Type: Indian monster, giant animal, frog spirit

 Aglebemu was a giant lake monster of Wabanaki legend who dammed up a great river (usually the St. John River or Penobscot River) and caused it to run dry, resulting in a drought. Ultimately he was defeated and turned into a bullfrog by the culture hero Glooskap. In some anthropological texts he is referred to as "Mitche-hant," which simply means "evil creature" and is used to refer to many different monsters. "Kci Cekolhs" or "Kci-Coqols" literally means "giant frog."


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Aglebemu Stories

Glooskap Fights the Water Monster:
    A Passamaquoddy version of the complete Aglebemu story.
Koluscap Frees the Water:
    Maliseet version of the Akwulabemu story, leaving off the monster's transformation into a frog.
Gluskabe and the Monster Frog * The Monster That Swallowed The Stream:
    Two Wabanaki versions of the Great Frog legend, including a coda where people transform into water animals.

Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror:
    A good collection of Native American monster stories by an Abenaki author, including a well-told Aglebemu legend.
Giants of the Dawnland:
    Excellent collection of Wabanaki legends told by a Penobscot Indian author.
Seven Eyes, Seven Legs:
    Another great book of myths and folktales told and illustrated by an Abenaki artist.
Algonquian Spirit:
    Rich anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Wabanaki and other Algonquian tribes.

Additional Resources

 Wabanaki mythology
 Wabanaki tribes
 Penobscot tribe
 Passamaquoddy tribe
 Languages spoken in Maine
 Northeastern Woodland Indians
 Algonquians



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