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Native American Legends: Manogamesak (Manogames)
Name: Manogemasak
Tribal affiliation: Abenaki,
Penobscot,
Passamaquoddy,
Maliseet
Alternate spellings: Manôgemasak, Manongamasak, Manogamesak, Manongemassak, Wanagemeswak,
Wana-games-ak, Wunagmeswook, Wonakomehsok, Wonakomeswok, Oonahgemessuk, Unagemeswak, Wonakomehsisok,
W'nag'meswak, W'nag'meswuk, Wanagameswak, Wu-nag-mes-wook, Wanagmeswak, Warnungmeksooark, Wanangmeswak,
Wanongmekosooark, Wan'ek mehswak, Wan'akamehsawak
Pronunciation: mah-nawn-guh-mah-sock (in Abenaki-Penobscot) or wuh-nah-guh-mass-uk (in Maliseet-Passamaquoddy.)
Also known as: "Manogemasak" is the plural form of their name. The singular is Manogemas, Manôgemasiz,
Manogames, Wanagames, Wonakomehs, Wunagames, Unagemes, Wonakomehsis, Oonahgemessos, Oonahgemes,
Ooargamess, We'naga'mes, Wanagamess, Wna'game'su, Manogama's, Manogames, etc.
Type: Indian little people,
river spirits
Related figures in other tribes: Pukulatmuj (Micmac),
Mannegishi (Cree),
Paissa (Miami)
One of several races of legendary little people in Wabanaki folklore, manogemasak are river-elves who make their
homes in rocky riverbanks. Manogamasak are
nature spirits who are generally
friendly to the Wabanaki people but may sometimes capsize canoes, tear fishing nets, or cause other mischief.
They have narrow faces, which some stories describe as being so thin they cannot be seen except in profile.
When clay or silt deposits along the
riverbank resemble people or animals, they are said to be sculptures made by the manogemasak, and bring
good luck to the person who finds them. Rocks by the side of a river with geometric markings on
them are considered to mark the home of a manogames family and are best left undisturbed.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Giants of the Dawnland:
A good collection of Wabanaki legends told by a Penobscot Indian author.
Algonquian Spirit:
Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Maliseet and other Algonquian tribes.
The Deetkatoo:
Traditional tales about little people from the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and other Native American tribes.
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Abenaki folklore
Abenaki Indians
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Penobscot Indian tribe
Vermont Indian reservations
Northeastern Woodlands
Algonquian language

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