Native Languages of the Americas: Wenabozho Stories and other Chippewa Legends
This is our collection of links to Chippewa folktales and traditional stories that can be read online.
We have indexed our Native American legends section
by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same
legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to
each other, so you may also want to visit our page comparing
the stories from the Anishinaabe tribes (which
include the Algonquin, Ottawa, Potawatomi, and Chippewa Indians), since the traditional stories of those
tribes are very similar.
Enjoy the stories! If you would like to recommend a Chippewa legend for this page or think one of the ones on here
should be removed, please contact us and let us know.
˜Wenabozho (also spelled Waynaboozhoo, Nanabozho,
Nenabush, Manabush, and several other ways.) Wenabozho is the benevolent culture hero of the Anishinaabe tribes (sometimes referred to as a
"transformer" by folklorists.) His name is spelled so many different ways partially because the Anishinabe
languages were originally unwritten (so English speakers just spelled it however it sounded to them at the time), and partially because the Ojibway and
Algonquin languages are spoken across a huge geographical range in both Canada and the US, and the name sounds different in different dialects.
The correct pronounciation here in Minnesota is similar to way-nuh-boo-zhoo, but in other places in the Anishinabe world it is
pronounced nay-nuh-boo-zhoo, nain-boo-zhoo, nain-bozh, nay-nuh-boash, or mah-nah-boo-zhoo. Wenabozho shares
some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Wabanaki
Glooskap, Blackfoot
Napi, and Cree
Wesakechak, and many of the same stories
are told in different Algonquian tribes with only the identity of the protagonist differing.
˜Gichi Manidoo (also spelled
Gchi Mnidoo, Kichi Manido, Gitche Manitou, Gitchi Manidou, Gitchee Manito, Gzhemnido, and several other ways.)
This means "Great Spirit" in the Ojibwe language, and is the Ojibwe name for the Creator (God.) Gichi-Manidoo
is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes (including gender) and is never personified in Chippewa folklore. The name is pronounced
similar to gih-chee muh-nih-doh or gih-chee muh-nih-doo, depending on dialect.
˜Nokomis (also spelled Nookomis, Nukomis and other ways.)
Waynaboozhoo's wise old grandmother, who raised him. Pronounced noh-koh-miss or noo-koh-miss, depending on dialect.
˜Windigo (also spelled Wiindigoo, Wendigo, Weendigo,
and other ways.) An evil man-eating spirit. Windigos play the roles of monsters and bogeymen in some legends; in others, Chippewa people
who commit sins (especially selfishness, gluttony, or cannibalism) are turned into Windigos as punishment. It is pronounced ween-dih-goh or
ween-dih-goo in the Ojibway language, depending on dialect.
˜Mandaamin (also spelled Mondawmin, Mondamin, and other ways.)
The spirit of the corn. Unlike most Algonquian tribes, the Ojibway usually portray him as male. His name is pronounced mun-dah-min and literally means
"Corn."
˜Bagwajiwinini (also spelled Bagwajinini,
Bagudzinini, Pukwudjininee, Puckwijinee,
Puk-Wudjies, and other spellings.) These are mythological little people of the forests. Their name means "wild man" and is pronounced similar to
bug-wuh-jih-wih-nih-nee or buh-gwuh-jih-nih-nee, depending on dialect. (The same creatures are sometimes also called
Apa'iins or Pai'iins instead, which literally means "little person.") Pukwudjininees are mischievious but generally good-natured
beings.
˜Memegwesi (also spelled Memengwesi, Memegweshi, Omemengweshii,
Maymaygwayshi, and other ways.) These are small riverbank-dwelling water spirits. The Ojibwe plural is Memegwesiwak (or Maymaygwaysiwuk.) They are
also generally benign creatures, but sometimes blow canoes astray or steal things when they are not shown proper respect.
˜Underwater Panther (Ojibwe name variously spelled
Mishibizhiw, Mishibizhii, Mishipeshu, Mishipizhiw, Mishipizheu, and other ways.) This is a powerful mythological creature something like a cross between
a cougar and a dragon. It is a dangerous monster who lives in deep water and causes men and women to drown.
American Indian culture
Wenabozho:
The Birth of Wenabozho the Trickster: 
