Mishemokwa

Also known as: great Bear with the wampum necklace / the giant Bear · Role: bear · First appears: Shawondasee

In “Shawondasee,” Mudjekewis and his nine brothers conquer Mishemokwa, the Mammoth Bear, and take the Sacred Belt of Wampum. In “Mishemokwa; or, the War with the Gigantic Bear · Part 2,” Mishemokwa pursues the youngest brother (Mishemokwa legend) and his party after the belt is stolen. He fights the first small black dog (Mishemokwa legend) and the remaining dog (Mishemokwa legend), and both dogs die in the struggle. In the second lodge, the old Manito (Mishemokwa legend) strikes Mishemokwa with two black-stone clubs, breaking them and leaving the bear senseless.

In “Mishemokwa; or, the War with the Gigantic Bear · Part 3,” Mishemokwa tears the old Manito (Mishemokwa legend) to pieces. Iamoqua casts Iamo’s belongings and head at him, and the bear falls senseless. In “Mishemokwa; or, the War with the Gigantic Bear · Part 4,” Mudjekewis and the others kill Mishemokwa and scatter his remains, which become small black bears. Schoolcraft also describes the Mishemokwa as a great bear whose mysterious power Manabozho overcomes in combat.