1. Mythical Creatures from Aboriginal Storytelling

2. Important Anishinabe Mythological Figures Native Languages of the Americas: Manabozho Stories and other Anishinabe Stories Native Languages of the Americas website ©
Manabozho (also spelled Nanabozho, Wenabozhoo, Nanabush, Manabush, and several other ways.) Manabozho is the benevolent culture hero of the Anishinaabe tribes (sometimes referred to as a "transformer" by folklorists.) His name is spelled so many different ways partially because the Anishinabe languages were originally unwritten (so English speakers just spelled it however it sounded to them at the time), and partially because the Ojibway and Algonquin languages are spoken across a huge geographical range in both Canada and the US, and the name sounds different in different dialects. Not only that, but some Algonquin and Oji-Cree people call the same character by the name Wisakedjak instead, which is a name that comes from Cree folklore. The correct pronounciation here in Minnesota is similar to way-nuh-boo-zhoo, but in other places in the Anishinabe world it is pronounced mah-nah-boh-zho, mah-nah-boo-zhoo, nah-nah-boh-zho, nay-nuh-boo-zhoo, nain-boo-zhoo, or nay-nuh-boash. Nanabozho shares some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Wabanaki Glooscap, Blackfoot Napi, and Cree Wisakechak, and many of the same stories are told in different Algonquian tribes with only the identity of the protagonist differing.

3. Gitche Manitou (also spelled Gichi Manidoo, Gitchie Manitoo, Kitche Manido, Kihci Manito, Chi-Mnidoo, and several other ways.) These names mean "Great Spirit" in the Ojibwe, Algonquin, and Ottawa languages, and are used to refer to the Creator (God) in the Anishinabe tribes. Gitche-Manitou is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes (including gender) and is never personified in Anishinabe folklore. The name is pronounced similar to gih-chee muh-nih-doh or gih-chee muh-nih-doo, depending on which language is being spoken. Nokomis (also spelled Nookomis, Nukomis and other ways.) Manabozho's wise old grandmother, who raised him. Pronounced noh-koh-miss, noo-koh-miss, noke-miss or nook-miss, depending on which language is being spoken.

4. Windigo (also spelled Wendigo, Windago, Windiga, Witiko, and other ways.) An evil man-eating spirit. Windigos play the roles of monsters and bogeymen in some legends; in others, Anishinabe people who commit sins (especially selfishness, gluttony, or cannibalism) are turned into a Windigo as punishment. It is pronounced ween-dih-goh, ween-duh-goh, or ween-dih-goo.

5. Bagwajinini (also spelled Bagwajinini, Bagudzinini, and other spellings.) These are mythological little people of the forests. Their name means "wild man" and is pronounced similar to buh-gwuh-jih-nih-nee. They are mischievious but generally good-natured beings.
Memegwesi (also spelled Memegweshi, Memekwesi, and other ways.) These are small riverbank-dwelling water spirits. They are also generally benign creatures, but sometimes blow canoes astray or steal things when they are not shown proper respect.

6. Underwater Panther (called Mishibizhiw, Misibizhiw, Mishipizhiw, Nampeshiu, and other variants.) This is a powerful mythological creature something like a cross between a cougar and a dragon. It is a dangerous monster who lives in deep water and causes men and women to drown. Mishiginebig (also spelled Misi-Ginebig, Misiganebic, Miciginabik, Kichiginebig, or other ways): An underwater horned serpent, common to the legends of most Algonquian tribes. Its name literally means Great Serpent, and it is said to lurk in lakes and eat humans.

7. Thunderbird (variously named Animikii, Nimkii, Binesi, Bnesi, Cigwe, Jigwe, and other ways): Thunderbird, a giant mythological bird common to the northern and western tribes. Thunder is caused by the beating of their immense wings. Although thunderbirds are very powerful beings, they rarely bother humans, and were treated with reverence by Anishinabe people.

8. Wendigo
The Wendigo was the entity that embodied the Algonquian taboo against cannibalism in times of famine.  Wiki: "Among northern Algonquian cultures, cannibalism, even to save one's own life, was viewed as a serious taboo; the proper response to famine was suicide or resignation to death. On one level, the Wendigo myth thus worked as a deterrent and a warning against resorting to cannibalism; those who did would become Wendigo monsters themselves.“
History of things to Come Symbols of Immortality 3: Wendigo Web March 2011

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11. Other Aboriginal Creatures

12. Cannibal Woman

14. Aboriginal Storytelling Creatures Assignment
Choose one creature from an aboriginal story or aboriginal cultural perspective. Research and gather images and information about your subject. Create a poster, short story, bookcover or report that identifies your subject visually and describes the characteristics. You may also do a sculpture using found materials or paper mache. Please let the teacher know what materials you will need to be successful.