Little People

10/30/2018

The Memegwesi (Little People) can do magnificent things whenever they wish. Legends say that they can fly through the air and even live underwater if they want. Other stories say that they can dig deep into the earth and through the rocks as they please. If a person sees a Memegwesi and is kind to them, the Memegwesi will bring them good luck.

It is said that there are three tribes of Memegwesi — those that live in the banks beside streams and lakes, those live near the flowers and plants, and those who guard the lands under the earth.

The Memegwesi who live in the banks are very strong. They can uproot trees and can hurl great rocks with ease. Sometimes they will challenge people to tests of strength; the Memegwesi who live with the plants help the berries to grow fat, make flowers bloom and medicines to grow, and can show how these can be used to help the people; and the Memegwesi who live under the earth guard against serpents and monsters who live in the darkness below from coming to the surface and harming people.

Sometimes, deep in the woods, you find a tree around which no grass will grow. These trees are sacred to the Memegwesi and are places where their dance ring has been formed. Care must be taken not to cut these trees down or the Memegwesi will curse you.

If you see a Memegwesi, you should thereafter leave a plate of food for them from your table at the spot where you saw them. This will show respect to them and they will favor you with luck for the rest of your days.

24 Comments

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lisa ronnquist

10/30/2018 01:43:28 pm

love this

Scott Hjorleifson

11/10/2018 01:42:24 pm

That’s spookily similar to the legend of the hildafolk from Norse mythology. Almost too similar. Being Icelandic Canadian I grew up with this legend from another culture.

I’d be very interested in tracing the history of this legend, I’m betting it traces back Pre-Columbus but specifically on how far back, that’s where my interest lies, if one culture gave it to the other 1000 years ago on first contact and which one gave it to the other.
For this area it might add some validity to a Legond of a Viking ship entering Hudson Bay 800ish years ago and meeting the local inhabitants

Lenora

11/10/2018 05:09:21 pm

we the Anishnaabe/ Ojibway/ chippewas people have been here for thousands of years our stories are just as old too, it is not with the Vikings. we have our stories and sometimes it wasn't respectful/ customary to talk about the little people to others or our other stories we have, depends on what the story is to be shared, no disrespect but that's the way it is in my culture

Monica

4/14/2020 12:05:45 am

When I was little, we found tiny bottles and tiny plates and tiny cups buried in the earth in the woods behind our house in the old projects of the reservation, White Earth, MN. My mom said they were probably from little people...... she described this story. I'm getting goosebumps thinking about it. I'm talking deep in those woods.

Jerry ojibway

4/12/2020 03:25:58 pm

Vikings have been here longer than you think.
Oral history still proves true.

Lee

9/22/2020 03:57:19 pm

Do you mean that there was more recent contact between Natives and the Vikings than what they think? Like after 1000?

Sorry, I don't know how to word my question better. I'm doing some research on early contacts. Similarities in vastly different cultures is fascinating.

Victor

4/12/2020 05:03:43 pm

Have they ever seen what the legend tells or is it just a legend?

Around here, it's all too surreal the way some people talk about what they saw.

Liberty

4/15/2020 07:00:34 am

Hello there, I have noticed both Norse and Irish creatures resemble a few of our beings here in Ojibwe areas. I wanted to say, our stories are pre contact and modern times. Memegwesi were here longer then 5000 years for sure. Ojibwe can be dated back 15000 for sure perhaps longer. I doubt if either legend crossed from one culture to another - I believe we both had these beings separately.

Li Chogh Che link

4/15/2020 08:33:01 pm

In the Mayan prophecies it says that there have been 5 ice-ages and that we are now headed into the sixth by my calculations.

Ray

8/31/2020 12:39:23 am

Humans live everywhere but Antarctica, why not these fellows

Marie Charland

5/12/2020 10:10:08 pm

There are Little People all over the world - one culture didn't bring stories to the other specifically - they already had their respective stories - the reason they are so similar is precisely because these are the "same" Little People inhabiting various areas of Earth (as there are humans all over). Of course it's great to share stories and see how we are all related...

Dustin

10/4/2020 08:47:24 pm

True, just like our sasquatch, and Asia's yeti. there are things on this earth that have been here thousands of years. These creatures hold vast knowledge

Stel

11/11/2018 11:59:47 am

Dif cultures dif language,but a common thread,is that most cultures have similar legends because these mythic creatures are universal
Agreed with can't share or talk about the little people with anyone

Oats

11/13/2018 07:38:27 am

As a child i grew up playong with them...i have very vague memories of the encounters ...but i remember them ...somethings you just dont forget and reading this is soo true

warren

11/13/2018 01:17:58 pm

I found their little firepit before on one of the islands surrounding wikwemikong..they were watchin the lunar eclipse the nighjt before...it was really something special to see

Ashley Pitawanakwat

9/6/2020 12:46:40 am

amazing eh

Seng Phengdouangdeth

6/27/2019 08:51:45 pm

Hello!

My name is Seng and I host a podcast called Whispers in the Night. I'm currently putting an episode together abou Memegwesi and would like to interview you about it. I would love my listeners to learn all about the Native American folklore regarding Memegwesi and what they were.

Julie

4/12/2020 05:38:36 pm

Send, what is the name of your podcast! I’d be very interested. The Lakota call them wiwila.

Tara Wallette

4/4/2021 08:30:55 pm

Who they are. Gods children too. Thats what and who they are.

Zhinawiidaasag

4/14/2020 07:53:45 pm

Proper offerings for the memegwenziwag are miniature tools, copper, silver, maple candy. I’ve even made miniature pipes out of catlinite and steatite for them. There is one who has visited me throughout my entire life. He taught me how to honor his people. I’m very grateful for everything he’s done for me, given me, and taught me. Mii’iw.

Sacred Rattle

6/10/2020 01:55:12 am

I’m Anishinaabe from the Treaty 1 area of southern Manitoba, Canada, and although I’ve heard stories and even close encounters with the Little People, I’ve personally never seen one. And hopefully I’ll continue to not seeing them because they seem so eerie and I have had a dog/best friend of mine named Marley go missing for one night during the winter, in temperatures of —50 Celsius, and in the morning he returned injured and traumatized; his back was torn opened between the shoulder blades like he was lifted off of the ground by something...

James R Pacheco

4/17/2020 04:20:58 am

From the beautiful art to native story sharing so very interesting! My brother Mike has a cabin near Sly Park, high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California A widower living next to him is a retired Attorney from San Francisco whenever he has time he’ll make repairs for her at her place. My brother Mike has refused taking money from her and treats his acts of kindness as the neighborly thing to do that’s how we were raised.
After many years of living next door and sharing stories and life events she shares that her true passion is Genealogy. Although he has no interest he mentioned that I do.She asks permission and names / dates & locations for our Grandparents Delfino Pacheco & Grandmother Maria Lucia Espinosa Montoya were given to her. Approximately 6 or 7 months go bye my daughter Elizabeth & I pay my brother a visit. Here “Jane the Neighbor “also drops in. My daughter and I are introduced and she hands me a stack of paper and with a very sober face states “You descend from royalty!” In shock I proceed to bust out laughing assuming my brothers neighbor is a comedian. She is not amused and immediately says”really, really” with a straight face it’s all in there referring to this 6”stack. I look at my brother for some kind of help,support, conformation that his neighbor has lost it but nothing!? He shrugged his shoulders and walked away and Jane,Elizabeth and I sat down and started to investigate Jane’s work till 4 o’clock in the a.m.
I would mention a relative and she’d correct me and yes she had it the way I was told by my Grandmother or Grandfather Pacheco. I mentioned my Grandmother Lucia immediately she corrected me saying “ You mean Maria Lucia Espinosa Montoya !” “Yes,Yes,Yes!” I thought this stranger knows more about my family than I do ?” And she does!
I am soo sorry to go on and on but I’ve been trying for years to find out my American Indian heritage and can’t locate concrete evidence that this tribes DNA matches yours. My Grandfather Delfino,she writes his father was Manuel Trinidad Pacheco was born in llano de Coyote or (Rainsville) and the first born of our Pacheco clan was Geronimo Pacheco in 1606...? Jane goes all the way back to the year 760 ? or 670 ??? Viking days to great ggggggggg grandfather sonofdavid ??? I’m sorry I don’t have this data in front of me. Delfino I’m guessing was 1884 and Maria Lucia November 13,1888 born in LaJara. My Aunt Delfina would report that her sister and her were raised separately after both mother & father had died .So the young girls were split Lucia went to the Grandparents Montoya and her sister to the Espinosa. I believe our Indian blood runs through the Espinosa line Jane could not track past her Grandfathers Grandfather and that is unclear. I was born in a house my father (Seferino) and his uncle built by September 1949 in Fort Lupton,Colorado. The youngest of 4 I spent a lot of time with my mothers parents DiPaolo’s originally Trinidad (Berwin),Colorado and in 1928 relocated to Firestone to coal mine some more. He fought against the Rockerfellas
at Ludlow till 28 and died in 1940. My Grandfather Delfino was a farmer and sheep herder in NM moved North to Frederick, Co and coal mined there.
If These people sound familiar I now live in Arvada,Co.
Pachecojr@aol.com / 510-717-1785

kingoftribes

9/10/2020 04:34:03 am

kruh

Sahand Kashi

4/18/2020 07:47:19 am

In Iran we have Gens. Supposedly they are short creatures, and according to some accounts they have hoofs instead of feet. There are many different kinds of Gens.

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