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Native American Legends: Mikumwesu
Name: Mikumwesu
Tribal affiliation: Malécite,
Passamaquoddy
Alternate spellings: Megumooweco, Mihkemwehso, Mekmues, Mikmues
Pronunciation: mee-kum-wess-oo
Type: Hero,
little person
Related figures in other tribes: Tshakapesh (Innu),
Paisake (Fox)
In some Maliseet and Passamaquoddy traditions, Mikumwesu is a monster-slaying dwarf who is the older brother of
Glooscap and the progenitor of the race of
little people known as Mikumwesuck.
Mikumwesu is heroic, good-natured, and loyal; he is noted as being an excellent shot with a bow, and like his brother,
has great magical powers.
Koluskap: Stories from Wolastoqiyik:
A Maliseet version of the Kluskap cycle that features Mikumwesu as a main character.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Malecite Tales:
Classic 1914 collection of Maliseet myths about Glooscap, Mikumwesu and other legendary characters.
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.
Additional Resources
Passamaquoddy stories
Passamaquoddy pronunciation
Maliseet dictionary
Nova Scotia tribes
Northeast Indians
Algonquian glossary
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