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Native American Legends: Fox-Woman

Name: Fox-Woman
Tribal affiliation: Cree, Ojibway
Also known as: Waagoshii-Mindimooye (Ojibwe, pronounced wah-go-shee-min-dih-moo-yay), Wakoshi-Mitimoye (Oji-Cree, pronounced wah-ko-shee-mih-tih-moh-yeh), Foxwoman, Fox Old Lady, Grandmother Fox, Old Lady Fox
Type: Wise woman, heroine, fox

 Fox-Woman is a minor animal spirit of the Anishinabe and Cree tribes. She is usually portrayed as a wise elder. Fox-Woman plays an important role in the saga of Ayas, a young hero who she adopts as her grandson and helps to guide through many travails.

Foxwoman Stories

Iyash and Old Lady Fox:
    Severn Ojibwe legend about a hero passing a strange test to earn the advice of Wakoshi-Mitimoye (Foxwoman.)
    They have some more adventures together which you can read if you click "next," though it may seem a little disgusting to modern Americans.
*The Legend of Ayas:
    Audio file of a James Bay Cree storyteller narrating the story of Ayas and Grandmother Fox.
*Son of Aioswé:
    In this Cree version of the epic, Fox Woman appeared when the hero's mother wished for someone to help him.

Recommended Books of Foxwoman Stories
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Cree Legends and Narratives from the West Coast of James Bay:
    Comprehensive book of Swampy Cree and Moose Cree stories, including the complete epic of Ayas and Fox Woman.
Algonquian Spirit:
    Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Anishinabe, Cree, and related tribes.

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Additional Resources

 Cree mythology
 Ojibwa myths
 Ojibwa language
 Cree tribe
 Canadian First Nations languages
 Eastern Woodland Native American tribes
 Algonkian languages



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