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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.
26 Comments
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.
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.
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?
Victor
4/12/2020 05:03:43 pm
Have they ever seen what the legend tells or is it just a legend?
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. 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
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!
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...
Ps
7/12/2021 07:58:15 am
The Memegwesi are not vicious like that, your dog may have been in a wicked fight with another animal
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.
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.
Alfred or Mék
5/7/2021 04:45:08 pm
Im Citizen Potawatomi, we call them Pais, and I met one. She showed up after I did a four day fast because I was going through a bad patch in life after college and needed guidance. She told me how to heal myself, told me a bunch of jokes, gave me instructions how to honor her, gave me her signature, and stayed around for a few months to keep me company. When she left, she left behind a red Potawatomi hat for me. Im always thankful to my relations for passing down knowledge of the Little People, it probably saved my life Leave a Reply. |
AuthorA collaborative effort of members of the Ojibwe and Metis communities Archives
March 2019
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