Abenaki Legends
The tribes included in the Wabanaki Confederacy share similarities in language and also in folklore. This focuses on the folklore of the Abenaki which remains similar to the other tribes of New Hampshire and Maine though they may have different variations of some legends. One of the most known figures in this folklore is Gluskabe. “Gluskabe is the benevolent culture hero of Abenaki mythology, who taught the people the arts of civilization and protected them from danger. Like other Abenaki names, "Gluskabe" has many spelling variants (Glooscap, Kluskap, etc.) The Abenaki pronounciation is glue-skaw-buh” (Gluskabe). The many variations of spelling his name are due to the different dialects of the people and also depending on how the white colonists heard the name pronounced when they transcribed it to paper. Another important figure in Abenaki legends is Gichi Niwashaw. “This means "Great Spirit" in Abenaki, and is the Abenaki name for the Creator (God,) who is sometimes also referred to as Dabaldak. Gichi Niwaskw is a divine spirit who is never personified in Abenaki folklore. Pronounced similar to gih-chee nih-wahsk” (Gluskabe). Many of the other characters mentioned in the folklore are the relatives and friends of Gluskabe, as well as trickster animals such as Azeban. “Azeban, the Raccoon, is a trickster animal of the Abenaki and Penobscot tribes. His exploits are mischievous, funny, and fairly trivial. Azeban is the main character of many stories aimed at children. He often behaves foolishly or causes trouble for others, but unlike animal tricksters in some other tribes, Azeban is not dangerous or malevolent” (Azeban).
Stories
Creation Story and the Importance of Dreaming
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Abenaki Emergence Myth
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The Strange Origin of Corn
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Racoon and the Waterfall
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Gluscabi and the Wind Eagle
/uploads/1/3/7/8/13788857/gluscabi_and_the_wind_eagle.pdf
Creation Story and the Importance of Dreaming
/uploads/1/3/7/8/13788857/creation_story__the_importance_of_dreaming.pdf
Abenaki Emergence Myth
/uploads/1/3/7/8/13788857/abenaki_emergence_myth.pdf
The Strange Origin of Corn
/uploads/1/3/7/8/13788857/the_strange_origin_of_corn.pdf
Racoon and the Waterfall
/uploads/1/3/7/8/13788857/raccoon_and_the_waterfall.pdf
Gluscabi and the Wind Eagle
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Click here for more Abenaki legends and stories.