Mishipeshu

Mishipeshu, is one of the several and most important water beings for the Ojibwa, who are a branch of the Algonquian Indians. It received its name from the way it looks. Mishipeshu translates into "The Great Lynx." It has the head and paws of a giant cat but is covered in scales and has dagger-like spikes running along its back and tail.^[1]. Mishipeshu calls Michipicoten Island in Lake Superior his home.

Copper

The history of Mishipeshu is merely a legend for some but for relatives of, and the Algonquin Indians, it is as real as the water and precious metal it guarded. Mishipeshu is known for guarding the vast amounts of copper in Lake Superior, and the Great Lakes Region. There seems to be substantial evidence, that there was a very ancient and unknown people that mined the copper and moved the majority to an undisclosed location. Later, during the 17th century, the Jesuit Missionaries arrived in the Great Lakes Region. By that time, swiping copper from the region was extremely taboo, and forbidden by the Ojibwa tribe. It was even worse to take it from the Great Lynx's home, Michipicoten Island - this was considered to be stealing from Mishipeshu himself.^[2].

Close Encounters

There are a few stories that might be of true believers of this great beast. A Jesuit missionary named Claude Dablon told a story about four Ojibwa Indians who embarked on a journey to the home of Mishipeshu to take some copper back to their home, and use it to heat water. the very second they pushed off and back into the water with their canoe, the eerie voice of the water panther surrounded them. The water panther came growling after them, vigorously accusing them of stealing the playthings of his children. All four of the Indians died on the way back to their village. the last one surviving just long enough to tell the tale of what had happened, in his final moments before he finally died. During the 1840s there was a copper rush, people there had realized the value of copper which was for the taking around Isle Royale and Keweenaw Peninsula. There was Great suffering and accidents that many key people and vessels fell victim to. The steamer Cumberland was lost at the Rock of Ages Reef on Isle Royale. Another ship, by the name of Algoma, was sunk in a storm during 1885, and forty-five people sunk to a watery death in the creature's lair.

Lessons learned

One should always beware the wrath of Mishipeshu. The legend of Mishipeshu is powerful in two ways. First, it represents the power volatility of Lake Superior. It instills a sense of unpredictability and reliance on cooperating with nature to ensure our survival. It forces us to be humble and to realize that we are not in control of Mother Nature and plans that we make can go to hell rather quickly. Second and more important is that it teaches us stewardship and how we should treat gifts of nature. We take without thinking the majority of the time, take without gratitude or without respect. There will be harsh consequences for exploiting earth in the wrong way. These consequences can be any number of things including Mishipeshu's wrath, global warming, fishery collapses, pollution, erosion, or sedimentation. This applies to individuals, as well as companies. It can be a long shower, or daily laundry, or building a water plant on the shores of Lake Superior. We must all apply these lessons to our daily lives ^[3].

References

1. ^ www.monstropedia.org
2. ^ Godfrey, Linda S. Weird Michigan New York: Sterling Publishing Co.(2006) Hardcover
3. ^ http://www.greatlakestownhall.org/weekley-editorial/3141

External links

• http://www.aroundthegreatlakes.com
• http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index