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Native American Legends: Pomola (Pamola, Bemola)
Name: Pomola
Tribal affiliation: Penobscots,
Abenakis
Alternate spellings: Pamola, Bemola, Bmola, Bemohla, Bmohla, Bahmolai, Pomolo, Bumole, Pamolai, Pamole, P'mula, P-mol-a
Pronunciation: buh-moh-lah
Type: Monster,
giant bird
In Penobscot folklore, Pomola was a bird spirit that lived on Mt Katahdin and made cold weather.
Pomola was associated with
night,
wind,
snow, and
storms.
Apparently it had a moose's head according to some legends. The only version we've been able to find just
says that Pomola was large enough to carry off a moose, not that it looks like one. Either way, Pomola
definitely is not a creature any human would want to mess with, and the Penobscots and Abenakis avoided
climbing to the top of this mountain so as not to disturb it.
Pamola, A Penobscot Legend:
Penobscot story about a woman who married Pamola.
Pamola 
Pomola:
Articles about the storm bird Pomola.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
Giants of the Dawnland:
Good collection of Wabanaki legends told by a Penobscot Indian author.
Seven Eyes, Seven Legs:
Another good book of myths and folktales, told and illustrated by an Abenaki author.
Turtle Island: Tales of the Algonquian Nations:
Anthology of legends from the Penobscot and other Algonquian tribes.
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Additional Resources
Abenaki mythology
Abenaki traditions
Abenaki language dictionary
Map of Maine
Eastern Woodlands tribes names
Algonkian legend
American Indian birds
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