“The Pukwudgie is
also native to America: a short, grey-faced, large-eared creature distantly
related to the European goblin. Fiercely independent, tricky and not over-fond
of humankind (whether magical or mundane), it possesses its own powerful magic.
Pukwudgies hunt with deadly, poisonous arrows and enjoy playing tricks on
humans... Faithful to the taboos of his people, the Pukwudgie refused to tell
her his individual name, so she dubbed him ‘William’ after her father.”
JK Rowling Puckwudgie Description from
Name: Pukwudgie
Tribal affiliation: Ojibwe, Algonquin, Abenaki, Wampanoag, Mohican
Alternate spellings: Bagwajiwinini, Bagwajinini, Pukwudjininee, Puckwijinee, Puk-Wudjie, Pukwujininee, Bokwjimen, Bogwejimen, Bgwajinini, Pok-wejee-men, Pok-wegee-men, Puckwudgie, Pukwudgee, Pagwadjinini, Pagwadjininì, Bagudzinini, Pukwatcininins, Puk-wud-gie, Puck wudj ininees, Pakwatcininins, Paweesuk, Paueeseegug, Paueehnsuk, Pikwatci'ni, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pakwatcininins, Bgoji-nini, Bagudjzinishinabe. The plural form of their name in the Algonquian languages is Bogwejimenak, Bagwajininiwok, Bgwajininwag, Pagwajininiwag, Bagwajininiwag, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pugwudgininiwug, Bgoji-nin-wag, Bgoji-ninwag, etc.
Pronunciation: bug-wuh-jih-wih-nih-nee, bug-wuh-jih-nih-nee, or boog-wuh-jee-mun, depending on the tribe
Also known as: Apa'iins, Pai'iins, Pa'iins, or Pahiins all of which literally mean "Little Ones" or "Little People" in Anishinabe languages.
Type: Little people, antagonists (in Wampanoag lore)
Related figures in other tribes: Mikumwess (Micmac), Paissa (Miami)
Pukwudgies are magical little people of the forest in Algonquian folklore, similar to European gnomes or fairies. Pukwudgie stories are told throughout the northeastern United States, southeastern Canada, and the Great Lakes region. However, their nature varies in the folklore of different tribes. In the Ojibwe and other Great Lakes tribes, the pukwudgie (or bagwajinini) is considered a mischievous but basically good-natured creature who plays tricks on people but is not dangerous. In the Abenaki and other northeast Algonquian tribes, a pukwudgie (or bokwjimen) can be dangerous, but only to people who treat him with disrespect. In the Wampanoag and other tribes of southern New England, pukwudgies are capricious and dangerous creatures who may play harmless tricks or even help a human neighbor, but are just as likely to steal children or commit deadly acts of sabotage. According to some Wampanoag stories, pukwudgies were enemies of the culture hero Maushop and were even responsible for his death (or the deaths of his sons.)
Pukwudgies are usually described as being knee-high or even smaller. Their name literally means 'person of the wilderness' and they are usually considered to be spirits of the forest. In some traditions, they have a sweet smell and are associated with flowers. Pukwudgies have magical powers which vary from tribe to tribe but may include the ability to turn invisible, confuse people or make them forget things, shapeshift into cougars or other dangerous animals, or bring harm to people by staring at them.
Tribal affiliation: Ojibwe, Algonquin, Abenaki, Wampanoag, Mohican
Alternate spellings: Bagwajiwinini, Bagwajinini, Pukwudjininee, Puckwijinee, Puk-Wudjie, Pukwujininee, Bokwjimen, Bogwejimen, Bgwajinini, Pok-wejee-men, Pok-wegee-men, Puckwudgie, Pukwudgee, Pagwadjinini, Pagwadjininì, Bagudzinini, Pukwatcininins, Puk-wud-gie, Puck wudj ininees, Pakwatcininins, Paweesuk, Paueeseegug, Paueehnsuk, Pikwatci'ni, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pakwatcininins, Bgoji-nini, Bagudjzinishinabe. The plural form of their name in the Algonquian languages is Bogwejimenak, Bagwajininiwok, Bgwajininwag, Pagwajininiwag, Bagwajininiwag, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pugwudgininiwug, Bgoji-nin-wag, Bgoji-ninwag, etc.
Pronunciation: bug-wuh-jih-wih-nih-nee, bug-wuh-jih-nih-nee, or boog-wuh-jee-mun, depending on the tribe
Also known as: Apa'iins, Pai'iins, Pa'iins, or Pahiins all of which literally mean "Little Ones" or "Little People" in Anishinabe languages.
Type: Little people, antagonists (in Wampanoag lore)
Related figures in other tribes: Mikumwess (Micmac), Paissa (Miami)
Pukwudgies are magical little people of the forest in Algonquian folklore, similar to European gnomes or fairies. Pukwudgie stories are told throughout the northeastern United States, southeastern Canada, and the Great Lakes region. However, their nature varies in the folklore of different tribes. In the Ojibwe and other Great Lakes tribes, the pukwudgie (or bagwajinini) is considered a mischievous but basically good-natured creature who plays tricks on people but is not dangerous. In the Abenaki and other northeast Algonquian tribes, a pukwudgie (or bokwjimen) can be dangerous, but only to people who treat him with disrespect. In the Wampanoag and other tribes of southern New England, pukwudgies are capricious and dangerous creatures who may play harmless tricks or even help a human neighbor, but are just as likely to steal children or commit deadly acts of sabotage. According to some Wampanoag stories, pukwudgies were enemies of the culture hero Maushop and were even responsible for his death (or the deaths of his sons.)
Pukwudgies are usually described as being knee-high or even smaller. Their name literally means 'person of the wilderness' and they are usually considered to be spirits of the forest. In some traditions, they have a sweet smell and are associated with flowers. Pukwudgies have magical powers which vary from tribe to tribe but may include the ability to turn invisible, confuse people or make them forget things, shapeshift into cougars or other dangerous animals, or bring harm to people by staring at them.
Makiawisug, or the Little People
"They are dense, bulky and born from the stones of the earth.
But they are also delicate,
wearing lady slipper flowers as moccasins."
“The rocks of Mohegan Hill are the home of the Makiawisug,
or Little People. After nightfall, the call of the Whip-poor-will signals their
arrival. They are good spirits, but the Mohegans know they must be treated with
respect, according to tradition. It is important to leave baskets of food, such
as corn cakes and berries, or even meat in the woods for them. Wearing moccasin
flowers for shoes, they gather the gifts at night. In fact, Makiawisug means
"whip-poor-will moccasins."
They have their own rules of etiquette. Those who see the
Little People should not look directly at them, they think it's rude. If they
catch you staring, they might point a finger at you, rooting you to the ground,
while they take your belongings. Another rule is don't speak of them in the
summer, when they are most active.
But in return for kindness, they taught the Mohegan people
how to grow corn and use healing plants. They keep the earth well and grant
favors for those who honor their ways.”
In September of 2012, a developer trying to build housing in
Montville, Connecticut received some surprising news during a town hearing.
They would need to alter their project because it threatened small stone
structures that had been made by magical, dwarf-like creatures that lived
underground...
...magical little people are an ancient tradition among the
Algonquian tribes that are native to this area, and the developer was planning
to build 120 units of housing on Mohegan Hill, which is the historic and
spiritual home of the sovereign Mohegan Tribe. Although the hill is not
technically within the boundaries of the tribe's reservation, it is still very
important to them. A letter from the tribe's historic preservation officer
explained the significance of the stone structures:
The sacred stone piles
on Mohegan Hill are a critical feature of the traditional landscape of Mohegan
Hill; they were created by the “Little People” who live deep within the ground
of Mohegan Hill. These “Little People” or Makiawisug are the ancient culture
heroes of this region. These stone piles also possess powers that protect the
Mohegan people from outsiders. Not only do the “Little People” still live
within the ground on the Hill and continue to guard the stones, these stone
piles are perceived as being made of the bones of Mother Earth and they contain
messages that guide generation after generation of Mohegan People. Contemporary
Mohegan tribal members make offerings to the “Little People” in hopes that they
will continue to protect our Tribe."
Wonderfully article. Same pukky little legendary people reported in this article and giant sign at Little Girls Point toward SW shore of Lake Superior, north of Ironwood, Michigan. (I know friends digging for years hoping to find 'Aztec' gold, as reportedly old man Triplett did). http://mattsonworks.com/Little_Girls_Point.html
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