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Native American Legends: Kinap (Kenap)
Name: Kinap
Tribal affiliation: Micmac
Alternate spellings: Kenap, Ginap, Genub
Pronunciation: kih-nopp
Also known as: The feminine form is Kinapskw or Ginabeskw.
Type: Legendary hero
In Mi'kmaq folklore, a Kinap is a mortal human gifted with uncanny physical strength and other powers.
In many legends, a Kinap's power manifests as a child, and he either becomes a child-hero
or dies young by using too much of his strength too early. In other legends, an adult Kinap
features as a mortal hero slaying a terrible monster or leading the other Micmac men into battle.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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On the Trail of Elder Brother:
Good book of traditional stories told by a Mi'kmaq author and illustrator.
Giants of the Dawnland:
Another good collection of Wabanaki legends, told by a Penobscot Indian author.
Algonquian Spirit:
Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Mi'kmaq and other Algonquian tribes.
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Additional Resources
Mi'kmaq mythology
Mikmaq language
Mi'kmaq history
Language in Nova Scotia
Woodlands Native American
Algic language family
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