Legendary Native American Figures: Mikumwess (Mikm)
Name: Mikumwess Tribal affiliation:Maliseet, Passamaquoddy,
Penobscot, Mi'kmaq Alternate spellings: Mikamwes, Mikumwes, Mikum-wasus, Mikumwasus, Mikomwasos,
Mihkomuwehs, Mihkomuwehsis, Migamawesu, Míkm, Mikmuwessu, Mi'kmuesu, Mikumwees, Megumooweso,
Megumoowesoo, Megumawessos, Mikumwessos, Mik'am, Mukmues, Mickamwes, Mikumwes, Mickemnise Pronunciation: mee-kum-wess or mee-kum-oo-wess Also known as: The plural form of their name is Mikumwesuk, Mihkomuwehsok, Mikumwessuk,
Mekumwasuck, Mekumwasuk, Mihkomuwehsisok, Meckumasuck, Míkmwesúk, Mekemwasuk, Mikumweswak, etc. Type:Little people, nature spirits Related figures in other tribes:Bagwajinini (Anishinabe), Makiaweesug (Mohegan), Paissa (Miami)
Mikumwesuk are little people like sprites or dwarves, said to be about as tall as a man's waist.
They are generally benevolent forest spirits
but can be dangerous if they are disrespected.
Some Maliseet traditions provide the Mikumwesuk with an origin story: they are the descendants of a tiny hero called
Mikumwesu, who was the brother and companion
of the culture hero Glooskap.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Giants of the Dawnland:
A good collection of Wabanaki legends told by a Penobscot Indian author.
On the Trail of Elder Brother:
More traditional Wabanaki stories, told by a Mi'kmaq author and illustrator.
Algonquian Spirit:
Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Mi'kmaq and other Algonquian tribes.
The Deetkatoo:
Traditional tales about little people from the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and other Native American tribes.
American Indian culture
How Glooskap made a Magician of a Young Man:
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