Contrast Between Anishinaabe And Iroquois Mythology
Jaden Raso
Contrast Between Anishinaabe and Iroquois Mythology Hundreds of years ago, in what we now know as North America many First
Nations tribes lived in harmony with nature. They created myths and legends not only to portray the creation of their land, but to teach valuable life lessons. Because their language’s were not written, these myths and legends have been told and have been passed along many times, which is why even in today’s time, we can still enjoy and appreciate their stories. Two main tribes’ mythology, Anishinaabe and Iroquois, although had a very similar respect and love for the Earth, as well as a belief in a Great
Spirit, had points of contrast between their myths and legends: their use of a main protagonist, their relevance of peace and war, and the role and importance animals played in their legends and myths. These differences between their stories will help distinguish the two sets of myths apart. Firstly, one point of contrast between Anishinaabe and Iroquois mythology, is their use of a main protagonist. In Anishinaabe mythology, there is an important figure named Nanabush (as well as Manabozho, Wisakedjak, Nanabozho, Manabush, Wiske, and several other differences in spelling and pronunciation), a human who was sent by
Gitche Manitou,
The Great Spirit, to teach the Anishinaabe people how to live, similar to
Glooscap and Napi in Algonquin legends. Nanabush is extremely relevant in
Anishinaabe mythology, and is present or at least mentioned in many of their stories.
Although Nanabush achieved many things in his lifetime, he was still human, and accidents took place. Fortunately, these accidents helped explain the creation of many parts of their land and aspects of their life. In comparison, in Iroquois mythology, there is no mention of a main protagonist, or any constant human figure. One example would be in the Anishinaabe story of
The First Butterflies in Anishinaabe mythology. The story
begins
Contrast Between Anishinaabe and Iroquois Mythology Hundreds of years ago, in what we now know as North America many First
Nations tribes lived in harmony with nature. They created myths and legends not only to portray the creation of their land, but to teach valuable life lessons. Because their language’s were not written, these myths and legends have been told and have been passed along many times, which is why even in today’s time, we can still enjoy and appreciate their stories. Two main tribes’ mythology, Anishinaabe and Iroquois, although had a very similar respect and love for the Earth, as well as a belief in a Great
Spirit, had points of contrast between their myths and legends: their use of a main protagonist, their relevance of peace and war, and the role and importance animals played in their legends and myths. These differences between their stories will help distinguish the two sets of myths apart. Firstly, one point of contrast between Anishinaabe and Iroquois mythology, is their use of a main protagonist. In Anishinaabe mythology, there is an important figure named Nanabush (as well as Manabozho, Wisakedjak, Nanabozho, Manabush, Wiske, and several other differences in spelling and pronunciation), a human who was sent by
Gitche Manitou,
The Great Spirit, to teach the Anishinaabe people how to live, similar to
Glooscap and Napi in Algonquin legends. Nanabush is extremely relevant in
Anishinaabe mythology, and is present or at least mentioned in many of their stories.
Although Nanabush achieved many things in his lifetime, he was still human, and accidents took place. Fortunately, these accidents helped explain the creation of many parts of their land and aspects of their life. In comparison, in Iroquois mythology, there is no mention of a main protagonist, or any constant human figure. One example would be in the Anishinaabe story of
The First Butterflies in Anishinaabe mythology. The story
begins