Native American Little People
Posted By Terrain Walker in Fae & Nature Folks, media-sites-misc
Native American Little People
in Fae & Nature Folks, media-sites-misc
Here’s several different tidbits of basic info on various Native American legends of Little People. I’ve provided reference links & book titles if anyone wishes to read further information on any or all of them.
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Nagumwasuck
Their size varied according to source:
Monster Spotter’s Guide to North America by Scott Francis they were listed as being approximately 7 inches tall
The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Faeries by Anna Franklin list them as being about 3 feet tall.
The small beings have almost no hair, a pointy nose and beady eyes.
They’re shy and very self conscious about their appearance and do not like to be laughed at. (both book describe them as ugly)
The MSG book reports their diet as small game, fish, nuts & berries.
The Nagumwasuck little people were friends of the Passamaquoddy Indians of Maine and Nova Scotia. Helpful to travelers who are fishing or hunting.
These were a peaceful elusive little people who would mourn with song the loss of a tribe member or celebrate special tribe events with dance.
They apparently are extinct now or have left the earth. Legend has it when people stopped believing in them they paddled away in a stone canoe.
resources:
Monster Spotter’s Guide to North America by Scott Francis
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fairies by Anna Franklin
further reading:
Nagumwasuck
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Mannegishi (with mention of the Gahonga)
The Mannegishi were reported as 3 to 4 feet tall, hairless, gray, big heads on spindley bodies with no nose.
These little trickster are from Cree legends of Eastern Canada.
The Mannegishi were dangerous little trickster and hung out around the rivers and tipped canoes of people over in rapids to drown.
(The Iroquois of Massachusetts have a familiar legendary creature they call Gahonga. )
According to the MSG & the wiki article there has been a crypto connection with the Mannegishi and the Dover Demon sightings.
resources:
Monster Spotter’s Guide to North America by Scott Francis
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fairies by Anna Franklin
further reading:
Mannegishi wiki with a connection of the Dover Demon sightings
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Kowi Anukasha or Forest Dwellers
Little People of the Choctaw
*excerpt:
“A long time ago in ancient time, while the Choctaw Indians were
living in Mississippi, the Choctaw legends say that certain
supernatural beings or spirits lived near them. These spirits, or
Little People, were known as Kowi Anukasha or Forest Dwellers. They
were about two or three feet tall…”
read full article story: Little People of the Choctaw
Little People, sprites, & other- wiki link–>Choctaw Mythology
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Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg – Maliseet, Wolastoqiyik Little People
Healers, pranksters, may be an omen of good or bad,
website article & stories:
Little People: Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg
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Gan, Apache Little People
I have a couple of books that gives short descriptions of the
Gan, but no stories about them.
A Complete Guide To Faeries & Magical Beings by Cassandra Eason
The Gan are described as Mountain spirits of the Apache Nation. They are invoked with rituals of song & dance for safe journeys & good weather.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Faeries by Anna Franklin
The Gan are described as Apache fairies of South-western North America. They guard the mountains and may assist, if asked, to drive away evil spirits or bring good fortune.
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The Apache Little People
I found mention of Apache Little People in a book online on Google called ‘Apache Gold by Joseph A. Altsheler’.
It’s about two people who find beehive like holes scooped out of the rock side of a cliff. The holes weren’t very deep, but suitable for living by cliff dweller standards.
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‘Pedro the Mountain Mummy’ & ‘Nimerigar’ – Shoshone Little People
And of course I can’t venture into the world of the nature folks without mentioning ‘Pedro the Mountain Mummy’…
In 2006, I was fascinated when I surfed across an article about ‘Pedro the Mountain Mummy’. It really caught my attention about stories of ‘little people’ legends in North America. According to the article the ‘little people’ stand from 20 inches to 3 feet tall and are known to be different beings to different tribes: tiny people eaters, spirits, healers, magical like the Celtic magical beings.
—About Pedro
’WYOMING LEGENDS Little People & the Pedro Mountain Mummy’ tells of 2 miners in 1932 who found a tiny mummy in a sealed cavern in the Pedro Mountains.
The mummy was 6 ½ inches tall in a seated position. If it was standing, it’s may be 14 inches tall. It looked like an old man with wrinkled brown skin. It had a low flat forehead, flat nose, heavy lidded eyes, wide mouth, thin lips. It also had a dark jelly-like substance on it’s head.
The article also speaks of a tribe of ‘little people’ known as the Nimerigar. Apparently these tiny beings would war with the Shoshone tribes attacking them with tiny bows and poisoned arrows.
The website article has pictures of Pedro, one is of his x-ray. Pedro disappeared many years ago and only his pictures remain.
read full article & see pictures:
*’WYOMING LEGENDS Little People & the Pedro Mountain Mummy’
further reference:
wiki link–> Pedro Mountains Mummy
wiki link–> Nimerigar
I’ve personally come to think Pedro may have been an infant that suffered from anencephaly … however… there are a few aspects of his find and his condition that if they are true, give me ’cause for pause’. I think it’s a sad and interesting mystery.
The book, ‘The President’s Vampire By Robert Damon Schneck – strange but true tales of the United States Of America’ tells of a family that has a female mummy that was said to have been found in the same regional area as Pedro and the same tiny size. A ‘Dr. Gill’ tested the female mummy and he thought it to be a baby with suffering from anencephaly. Although, to me, the way it read, there seems to be some question as to the final diagnosis.
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Menehune – Hawaii Little People
According to the ‘Menehune of Hawaii’ website,
The menehune range in size from about 6 inches up to 2 feet tall. They enjoy dancing, singing, cliff diving, archery and are mischievous, fast master builders, have great strength, they work only at night so as not to be observed. They shoot arrows into angry people’s hearts to make them feel love.
It’s speculated that they were the descendants of the first settlers of Hawaii from Marquesas. Others speculate that the Menehune were made up so the common people wouldn’t get the credit for constructing things.
Read full article: Menehune of Hawaii
more info, wiki link–> Menehune
There’s a lot of info on the wiki page, but I wanted post this bit of trivia:
“Their favorite food is the mai’a (banana), but they also like fish.”
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Here a bit of further info from the book:
The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Faeries by Anna Franklin
The Menehune are tiny beings with long black hair down to their knees to cover their nakedness and pointed ears.
They’re afraid of Owls because when they’ve been too mischievous the Owl god has the Owls to drive them back into the forest.
When the Polynesians arrived in Hawaii they discovered dams, fishponds and temples built by the Menehune.
Descendants of the Menehune-human parentage are able to call on the services of the menehune.
The menehune may act like house-fairies and prepare feasts for weddings and things while humans sleep.There’s more specific info in the book, these are a short version of certain traits & aspects.
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There’s other Native American tales stories online. Here’s a link to a website with a wealth of info.
First People Of America and Canada
use their ’search’ using the words: little people
There’s a plethora of stories and legends on this website from many different tribes.
http://terrainwalker.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/native-american-little-people/
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