Michabo (Michabou) – Algonquins’ Great Spirit With Power Over The Earth

A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Michabo (Michabou) was the Great Spirit of the Algoquins of – a group of North American Indian peoples who lived in the past on large areas of the continent. Currently, they are mostly scattered across Canada and the United States.

“Throughout the entire Algonquian area, these Indians never tired of gathering around their campfires and repeating the stories of Michabo.

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He was the highest divinity recognized by them, powerful and beneficent beyond all others. Traditions relating to him seem to have been universal among the Indians. Some of the stories are also found among certain tribes of neighboring stocks who doubtless obtained them from the Algonquians…”  ¹

According to ancient lore, a powerful supernatural entity or divine being descended to Earth and, upon arrival, encountered a solitary female inhabitant of exceptional beauty.

They fell in love and soon married. This union resulted in the birth of four male offspring; regrettably, their mother succumbed to childbirth’s complications.

The oldest, strongest, and most courageous of four was Michabo (which comes from the Algonquin word for “Great Rabbit“), who was destined to become the friend of the human race.

The second brother, Chibiabos, assumed responsibility for the deceased and governed the afterlife. The third sibling, Wabassa, departed for the northern regions, where he transformed into a rabbit spirit. The fourth brother, Chokanipok, was troublesome because he possessed a volatile temperament and argued frequently with Michabo, who blamed him for their mother’s death.

During one particularly brutal fight, Michabo carved huge fragments of flesh from his brother’s body, which, as soon as they fell to the ground, were transformed into flintstones. Over time, humans found a use for these stones to create fire, giving Chokanipok the name of Firestone, or Man of Flint.

When Chokanipok was finally slain, Michabo tore out his bowels and transformed them into long intertwining vines, which gave rise to the Earth’s flora. Then, he began his great expedition, carrying all the valuable tools and equipment he had distributed among men. He equipped them with weapons and fishing tools, and taught them hunting techniques. During his travels, he eliminated dangerous beasts threatening humans and removed dangerous obstacles in waterways placed by the Evil Spirit.

Michabo, an invincible god of the Algonquin Indians, was too powerful to be defeated or overcome. He was the one whose extraordinary capabilities and faculties exceeded mortal limitations.

In Algonquin Indian mythology, he had a supernatural force permeating his existence and manifested as a divine entity, commonly referred to as The Great Manitou or The Great Spirit.

This supreme being is credited with creating all elements within the universe and is recognized as the source of life itself. In this context, it is commonly appropriate to draw a parallel between Manitou and the counterpart of the Christian God, as both entities occupy similar roles within their respective belief systems.

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He was sometimes referred to as their sun god, but he represented not only the power of the sun but also the breath of the winds and the force that rebuilt the earth after the great flood.

So, the myths and legends of the Algonquin people say.

Also, Michabo played a similar role and was worshiped by neighboring tribes under names like Manabohzo and Nanabush. But no matter the name, the Great Spirit lived in the sky, on an island in Lake Superior, or an iceberg in the Arctic Ocean. Most commonly, however, he lived somewhere in the east, and from his home there, on the shore of the ocean thought to encircle the earth, he sent the moon and the sun on their sky journeys.

Michabo also ruled the weather, like Zeus and he battled the serpent prince of the waters who lived in the lake and flooded the earth. However, his battle with the serpent prince was likely symbolic of the sun god’s role in advancing the seasons. Another was Adad, ‘Lord Of Abundance’, or Amaru (Katari), just to name a few.

Michabo was responsible for a significant number of acts of creation, and contributed to the formation of various natural phenomena like discharging arrows into tree trunks, giving them the power to develop into branches, and floating pipe smoke over the hills, creating the autumn haze. Additionally, the great creator enriched the sea and ocean floor to bring up the grain of sand that made the habitable land.

The Algonquins worshiped this great spirit as the Great White Hare, perhaps referring to his connection with the sun and his role as the spirit of light who dispelled the demons of darkness.

When Michabo’s Great Work Was Almost Completed

At last, he positioned four good spirits at the earth’s cardinal points. He instructed humans to blow out tobacco smoke from their ceremonial pipes in these directions during sacred feasts as a sign of respect. He explained that the North Spirit would provide snow and ice for hunting.

The Southern Spirit would provide melons, maize, and tobacco, while the Western Spirit would bring rain for crops. The Eastern Spirit would ensure daylight in place of darkness.

It was time to retreat, as all requisite tasks and beneficial actions had been completed. Subsequently, Michabo was positioned upon a glacial formation in the Arctic Ocean and began to observe humanity.

He warned that if their wickedness forced him to leave Earth one day, his footprints would ignite, causing the world’s end, för it was he who guided the sun’s daily path around Earth.

Written by – A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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