Editing Abenaki mythology

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{{more citations needed|date=March 2007}}

The [[Abenaki people]] are an [[indigenous peoples of the Americas]] located in the [[Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands|Northeastern Woodlands]] region. Their religious beliefs are part of the ''[[Midewiwin]]'' tradition, with ceremonies led by [[shamanism|medicine keeper]]s, called ''Medeoulin'' or ''Mdawinno''.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==Creation==
In Abenaki mythology the highest deity is Gici Niwaskw, also referred to by the titles of [[Tabaldak]] or Dabaldak, meaning Lord, and Niwaskowôgan, meaning [[Great 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 the [[Cosmic ocean|primordial 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abenaki |publisher= [[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/abenaki |access-date=March 14, 2021}}</ref>

=== Gluskab and The Transition Between Ages ===
[[File:Glooscap turning a man into a cedar tree.jpg|thumb|Gluskab turning a man into a cedar tree (scraping on birchbark by [[Tomah Joseph]] 1884)]]
The main character noted for being responsible for the care of Gici Niwaskw’s creations and the transition between the three ages is [[Glooscap|Gluskab]], 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 for [[Trickster|trickery]] and playing pranks on people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abenaki |publisher =The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/abenaki |access-date=March 14, 2021}}</ref>

One of Gluskab’s many feats was tricking the great eagle [[Pamola]], 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 within [[maple tree]]s 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 have [[maple 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Native American Legends (A - B). |url=https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Legends-AB.html#Abenaki |website=www.firstpeople.us |access-date=March 14, 2021}}</ref>

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 misattributed [[Iroquois]] tale, as there exists only one known source for it within the Abenaki tribes and no wider knowledge of it within them.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Day |first1=Gordon M. |title=The Western Abenaki Transformer |journal=Journal of the Folklore Institute |date=1976 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=75–89 |doi=10.2307/3813815 |jstor=3813815}}</ref>

==Three Ages==
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|date=April 2021}}

===Beings of the Ancient Age===
{{Mythology}}
*[[Atosis]] - a [[medeoulin]] who is a [[list of reptilian humanoids|reptilian humanoid]], forces people to find a stick so that he can cook them with it, was blinded by [[Moosbas]]
*[[Azeban]] - "[[Raccoon]]", a raccoon or [[wolverine]] [[trickster]] spirit
*[[Kee-wakw]] - a gigantic, forest-dwelling [[Human cannibalism|cannibal]]
*[[Kisosen]] - "Sun-Bringer", the [[solar deity]], an [[eagle]] whose wings opened to create the day, and closed to cause the nighttime
*[[Kita-skog]] "Big Snake" or ''Pita-skog'' "Grand Snake" - a [[Horned Serpent]] who fights the Pa-don-gi-ak
*[[Kchi-awasos]] - "Big Bear", the bowl stars of the [[Big Dipper]] are the Great Bear, who is chased every night by three [[hunter]]s; he is killed every fall and his blood drips to earth turning the leaves brown while the [[constellation]] turns upside down; it is righted, and he is reborn, every spring
*[[Jiibayaabooz|Mateguas]] (also ''Mat-gwas'') - a [[rabbit]] spirit, first (one of magic) the rabbit, the first ''medeoulin'', legendary founder of the ''[[Midewiwin]]''.
*Metee-kolen-ol - a race of evil wizards with hearts of [[ice]]
*Nanom-keea-po-da - subterranean spirit who causes [[earthquake]]s
*[[Niben]] - "Summer", a woman whose stunning beauty forces Pe-ben to retreat to the north; she represents [[summer]]
*[[Pamola]] - a bird and night spirit who takes [[prisoner]]s to [[Alomkik]], near [[Mt. Katahdin]] and causes cold [[weather]]
*[[Psônen]] "Snow-Bringer" - an eagle-spirit that makes [[snow]] by opening his [[wing]]s
*[[Padôgi]]yik "Thunders" - seven white-skinned, golden-haired [[brother]]s, half-human and half-[[bird]], former inhabitants of [[Lake Champlain]], war-like, [[thunder]] and [[lightning]] spirits.
*[[Pebon]] "Winter" - a powerful sorcerer who puts his [[audience]] to sleep when he tells stories, spirit of winter
*[[Siguan]] "Spring" - a young male who loved the season of summer, and brought her to the north every spring
*[[Tabaldak]] "Owner" - the [[androgynous]] creator of existence
*Wa-won-dee-a-megw<!--(''Wiwilomeq'' in Maliseet)--> "Snail" - a [[snail]] spirit that can live in [[tree]]s, on land or in the water, as well as change size and appearance to look like a huge [[snake]], [[alligator]] or scaly man; has horns which can be ground into a magical powder
*Wad-zoo-sen - the eagle that flaps his wings to create [[wind]]. 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 the [[Aurora Borealis]]

===Beings of the Golden Age===
*[[Odziozo|Oodzee-hozo]] (''Odzihózo'') also known as Gluskab/Gluskabe (Gloos Ka Be)<ref>Afable, Patricia O. and Madison S. Beekes (1996). "Place Names" in ''Handbook of North American Indians'', vol. 17 (Ives Goddard, ed.). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, p. 193</ref> - ("the man who created himself") a man who lived before the invention of [[leg]]s. He dragged his body around, creating [[mountain]]s, [[valley]]s and [[river]]s (in this early form, he is referred to as [[Bemee-geedzin-pobi-zeed]]), as well as [[Lake Champlain]], which is [[holy]] to the Abenaki. Odzihozo turned himself into a rock in the lake ([[Rock Dunder]], roughly {{convert|1.4|mi|km}} west of [[Burlington, Vermont]]), which he is said to inhabit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-10 |title=A Small Rock In Lake Champlain Has Deep Roots In Abenaki Mythology |url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/vpr-news/2014-12-10/a-small-rock-in-lake-champlain-has-deep-roots-in-abenaki-mythology |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=Vermont Public |language=en}}</ref>
*Tool-ba (Tôlba) - foolish [[turtle]] spirit, uncle of Gluskab
*[[Pla-ween-noo]] - turtle spirit, mother of Gluskab, patron spirit of the [[Sokwakis]]
*'''Agaskw''' (also Nokemis) - ("woodchuck", also known as '''''Nokemis''''', "my grandmother") is a very wise [[woodchuck]]-spirit of the [[Abenaki people|Abenaki]]. She is the [[grandmother]] of [[Gluskab]].
*Moos-bas - [[mink]] spirit, adopted son on Gluskab, powerful fletcher, sometimes fulfills wishes
*Mool-sem - one of Gluskab's [[dog]]s, the white one, could shrink or enlarge himself
*M-da-weelh-ak - a [[loon]] 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 people Gluskab created but then destroyed because they crushed other animals and injured the [[earth]] with their great size

=== Beings of the Present Age ===
*Alom-bag-winno-sis or '''Alom-begwi-no-sis''' - a mischievous, dwarfish race of men upsets [[canoe]]s, that can increase or decrease body size at will; they also own a pot which can transform a few kernels of [[maize]] into a huge quantity; seeing one supposedly foretells a [[death]] by [[drowning]]
*[[Ask-wee-da-eed]] - a fire-elemental, identified as a [[will o' the wisp]], that brings bad luck and death, also connected with [[comet]]s and [[meteor]]s
*[[Atsolowas]] - a [[trickster]]. 
*Awa-hon-do z - [[insect]] spirits that bite humans
*[[Awes-kon-wa]] - a small, flying sprite, associated with the [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]] tribe
*Batsolowanagwes - a benign trickster
*[[Bedig-wajo]] (western Abenaki) or [[Ktaden]] (eastern Abenaki) - a [[culture hero]]
*[[Chibaiskweda]] - [[marsh gas]], supposedly caused by the [[ghost]] of an improperly buried [[corpse]]
*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 - a [[monster]], so ugly that even he is terrified of his own appearance
*Ko-gok - another monster
*Lo-lol - a frightening monster
*M-ska-gwe-demoos - a [[swamp]]-dwelling woman, dressed in [[moss]] with moss for [[hair]]; she cries alone in the [[forest]] and is potentially dangerous
*Maski-mon-gwe-zo-os - a [[toad]] creature, seduces men and children and kills them, appears either as a [[partridge]] or a woman dressed in moss, with a belt made of [[Eastern arborvitae|arborvitae]] [[Bark (botany)|bark]]
*Meek-moos-ak - a pair of short [[twin]]s who seduce women, who are then cursed to never desire [[marriage]], kills [[hunter]]s during the [[winter]], possibly a personification of the [[Mi'kmaq people|Mi'kmaq]] tribe
*N-dam-keno-wet - a half-fish, half-human creature with a small face and long hair, [[Sexual assault|molest]]s bathing women
*P-skig-demo-os - a female creature, slays men and children
*Pak-zin-skwa - an ugly, old woman
*Pim-skwa-wagen-owad - small, aquatic, pinching creatures
*[[Pukwudgie|Pok-wejee-men]] - small creatures, created from the [[Bark (botany)|bark]] of the [[ash tree]]
*Tsa-tsamolee-as - the noisy, [[clown]]ish fool
*Tsi-noo - a person whose [[heart]] is made of [[ice]] and has no [[soul]]; he eats the souls of others for sustenance and strength. See also the [[Chenoo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chenoo, the Ice Giant (Chenu, Jinu, Chinu) |url=http://www.native-languages.org/chenoo.htm |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=www.native-languages.org}}</ref>
*Wana-games-ak - river-dwelling creatures with faces so narrow, they are essentially [[two-dimensional]], friendly creatures that warned the Abenaki of coming attacks

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Abenaki mythology| ]]