In Abenaki mythology the highest deity is Gici Niwaskw, also referred to by the titles ofTabaldak or Dabaldak, meaning Lord, and Niwaskowôgan, meaningGreat Spirit. According to the creation myth, there existed no sound or color prior until Gici Niwaskw desired it and began the process of creating the world. To do so he called forth a giant turtle, called Tolba, from theprimordial waters, crafting the land on top of Tolba’s shell and the clouds above that. After this creation the Great Spirit fell asleep and began to dream of every creature and plant to ever exist, waking to discover that his dreams had become reality as he had slept. Thus the newly created world was populated by living things.[1]
Gluskab turning a man into a cedar tree (scraping on birchbark byTomah Joseph 1884)
The main character noted for being responsible for the care of Gici Niwaskw’s creations and the transition between the three ages isGluskab, known by different names such as Glooscap, Glooskap, Gluskabe, and Klooskomba throughout the various Abenaki branch tribes. While not a full deity within the mythology Gluskab is characterized as a being with supernatural powers who uses them to make life easier for humankind while maintaining a fondness fortrickery and playing pranks on people.[2]
One of Gluskab’s many feats was tricking the great eaglePamola, who creates wind by beating his wings, to allow him to tie his wings, and freeing them once the eagle promised to only cause storms sometimes. Gluskab is also credited with shrinking beavers to their modern size, as during the Ancient Age they were larger than humans. He did this by petting them on their heads, and with each pet, he used his magic to cause them to grow smaller and smaller. The most common tale was of Gluskab turning the syrup withinmaple trees to sap. Initially, syrup could be found directly in maple trees, so the humans sat under the trees all day and let the sweet treat drip directly into their mouths, leaving the fields untended and homes unkempt. Gluskab poured water into the maple trees to dilute the syrup, which meant that humans could no longer havemaple syrup without collecting it and boiling it down for much less than they had gathered. Thus Gluskab ensured humans would not grow lazy in their lives.[3]
In some versions of his story, Gluskab is noted as being the twin of Malsum or Malsumis, a more malevolent being that seeks to make life harder for humans rather than easier. However, there is some doubt of whether this version actually comes from Abenaki mythology or if it is a misattributedIroquois tale, as there exists only one known source for it within the Abenaki tribes and no wider knowledge of it within them.[4]
Since the creation, it is believed by the Abenaki that the world has gone through three separate ages, defined by humanity and its relationship with the other animals. First, there is the Ancient Age, where humans and animals are viewed as equal, followed by the Golden Age, where humans begin to separate themselves from being like the other animals. Finally, there is the Present Age, which is marked by the current status of humans being completely separate from the rest of the animals.[citation needed]
Kisosen - "Sun-Bringer", thesolar deity, aneagle whose wings opened to create the day, and closed to cause the nighttime
Kita-skog "Big Snake" orPita-skog "Grand Snake" - aHorned Serpent who fights the Pa-don-gi-ak
Kchi-awasos - "Big Bear", the bowl stars of theBig Dipper are the Great Bear, who is chased every night by threehunters; he is killed every fall and his blood drips to earth turning the leaves brown while theconstellation turns upside down; it is righted, and he is reborn, every spring
Mateguas (alsoMat-gwas) - arabbit spirit, first (one of magic) the rabbit, the firstmedeoulin, legendary founder of theMidewiwin.
Metee-kolen-ol - a race of evil wizards with hearts ofice
Nanom-keea-po-da - subterranean spirit who causesearthquakes
Niben - "Summer", a woman whose stunning beauty forces Pe-ben to retreat to the north; she representssummer
Wa-won-dee-a-megw "Snail" - asnail spirit that can live intrees, on land or in the water, as well as change size and appearance to look like a hugesnake,alligator or scaly man; has horns which can be ground into a magical powder
Wad-zoo-sen - the eagle that flaps his wings to createwind. Gluskab tries to stop his wind in order to hunt by tying his wings and moving him, but realizes that without the wind, the earth and water will suffer and releases him enough to allow some wind.
Wassan-mon-ganeehla-ak - a race of people who play games with a ball of light, causing theAurora Borealis
Oodzee-hozo (Odzihózo) also known as Gluskab/Gluskabe (Gloos Ka Be)[5] - ("the man who created himself") a man who lived before the invention oflegs. He dragged his body around, creatingmountains,valleys andrivers (in this early form, he is referred to asBemee-geedzin-pobi-zeed), as well asLake Champlain, which isholy to the Abenaki. Odzihozo turned himself into a rock in the lake (Rock Dunder, roughly 1.4 miles (2.3 km) west ofBurlington, Vermont), which he is said to inhabit.[6]
Moos-bas -mink spirit, adopted son ofGluskab, powerful fletcher, sometimes fulfills wishes
Mool-sem - one ofGluskab'sdogs, the white one, could shrink or enlarge himself
M-da-weelh-ak - aloon spirit in the form of a dog,Gluskab's messenger, one of his dogs, the black one, could shrink or enlarge himself
A-senee-ki-wakw - a race of stone giants, the first peopleGluskab created but then destroyed because they crushed other animals and injured theearth with their great size
Alom-bag-winno-sis orAlom-begwi-no-sis - a mischievous, dwarfish race of men upsetscanoes, that can increase or decrease body size at will; they also own a pot which can transform a few kernels ofmaize into a huge quantity; seeing one supposedly foretells adeath bydrowning
Do-gakw-ho-wad - small men who prop the jaws of animals open with sticks in order to avoid being eaten
Dzee-dzee-bon-da - amonster, so ugly that even he is terrified of his own appearance
Ko-gok - another monster
Lo-lol - a frightening monster
M-ska-gwe-demoos - aswamp-dwelling woman, dressed inmoss with moss forhair; she cries alone in theforest and is potentially dangerous
Maski-mon-gwe-zo-os - atoad creature, seduces men and children and kills them, appears either as apartridge or a woman dressed in moss, with a belt made ofarborvitaebark
Meek-moos-ak - a pair of shorttwins who seduce women, who are then cursed to never desiremarriage, killshunters during thewinter, possibly a personification of theMi'kmaq tribe
N-dam-keno-wet - a half-fish, half-human creature with a small face and long hair,molests bathing women
P-skig-demo-os - a female creature, slays men and children
Tsi-noo - a person whoseheart is made ofice and has nosoul; he eats the souls of others for sustenance and strength. See also theChenoo.[7]
Wana-games-ak - river-dwelling creatures with faces so narrow, they are essentiallytwo-dimensional, friendly creatures that warned the Abenaki of coming attacks
^Day, Gordon M. (1976). "The Western Abenaki Transformer".Journal of the Folklore Institute.13 (1):75–89.doi:10.2307/3813815.JSTOR3813815.
^Afable, Patricia O. and Madison S. Beekes (1996). "Place Names" inHandbook of North American Indians, vol. 17 (Ives Goddard, ed.). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, p. 193
