I found that these creatures went by many different names, depending on the tribe. They appear to be a very popular legend among native Americans.
[color=#0074d9]A little more on the pukwudgies.
Native American Legends: Pukwudgie (Puckwudgie)
Name: Pukwudgie
Tribal affiliation: Chippewa, Wampanoag, Algonkin, Abenaki, Mohican
Alternate spellings: Bagwajiwinini, Bagwajinini, Pukwudjininee, Puckwijinee, Puk-Wudjie, Pukwujininee, Bokwjimen, Bogwejimen, Bgwajinini, Pok-wejee-men, Pok-wegee-men, Puckwudgie, Pukwudgee, Pagwadjinini, Pagwadjininì, Bagudzinini, Pukwatcininins, Puk-wud-gie, Puck wudj ininees, Pakwatcininins, Paweesuk, Paueeseegug, Paueehnsuk, Pikwatci'ni, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pakwatcininins, Bgoji-nini, Bagudjzinishinabe. The plural form of their name in the Algonquian languages is Bogwejimenak, Bagwajininiwok, Bgwajininwag, Pagwajininiwag, Bagwajininiwag, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pugwudgininiwug, Bgoji-nin-wag, Bgoji-ninwag, etc.
Pronunciation: bug-wuh-jih-wih-nih-nee, bug-wuh-jih-nih-nee, or boog-wuh-jee-mun, depending on the tribe
Also known as: Apa'iins, Pai'iins, Pa'iins, or Pahiins all of which literally mean "Little Ones" or "Little People" in Anishinabe languages.
Type: Little people, forest spirits, antagonists (in Wampanoag lore)
Related figures in other tribes: Mikumwess (Micmac), Paissa (Miami)
Pukwudgies are magical little people of the forest in Algonquian folklore, similar to European gnomes or fairies. Pukwudgie stories are told throughout the northeastern United States, southeastern Canada, and the Great Lakes region. However, their nature varies in the folklore of different tribes. In the Ojibwe and other Great Lakes tribes, the pukwudgie (or bagwajinini) is considered a mischievous but basically good-natured creature who plays tricks on people but is not dangerous. In the Abenaki and other northeast Algonquian tribes, a pukwudgie (or bokwjimen) can be dangerous, but only to people who treat him with disrespect. In the Wampanoag and other tribes of southern New England, pukwudgies are capricious and dangerous creatures who may play harmless tricks or even help a human neighbor, but are just as likely to steal children or commit deadly acts of sabotage. According to some Wampanoag stories, pukwudgies were enemies of the culture hero Maushop and were even responsible for his death (or the deaths of his sons.)
Pukwudgies are usually described as being knee-high or even smaller. Their name literally means 'person of the wilderness' and they are usually considered to be spirits of the forest. In some traditions, they have a sweet smell and are associated with flowers. Pukwudgies have magical powers which vary from tribe to tribe but may include the ability to turn invisible, confuse people or make them forget things, shapeshift into cougars or other dangerous animals, or bring harm to people by staring at them.
I've heard all kinds of tales from people. I've heard stories about people encountering fairies and gnomes, and other forest spirits, but I've never heard a word about something like this before, other than movie adaptations of similar creatures with similar powers.
This must be where some of that comes from.
[color=#0074d9]A little more on the pukwudgies.
Native American Legends: Pukwudgie (Puckwudgie)
Name: Pukwudgie
Tribal affiliation: Chippewa, Wampanoag, Algonkin, Abenaki, Mohican
Alternate spellings: Bagwajiwinini, Bagwajinini, Pukwudjininee, Puckwijinee, Puk-Wudjie, Pukwujininee, Bokwjimen, Bogwejimen, Bgwajinini, Pok-wejee-men, Pok-wegee-men, Puckwudgie, Pukwudgee, Pagwadjinini, Pagwadjininì, Bagudzinini, Pukwatcininins, Puk-wud-gie, Puck wudj ininees, Pakwatcininins, Paweesuk, Paueeseegug, Paueehnsuk, Pikwatci'ni, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pakwatcininins, Bgoji-nini, Bagudjzinishinabe. The plural form of their name in the Algonquian languages is Bogwejimenak, Bagwajininiwok, Bgwajininwag, Pagwajininiwag, Bagwajininiwag, Pukwadjiineesuk, Pugwudgininiwug, Bgoji-nin-wag, Bgoji-ninwag, etc.
Pronunciation: bug-wuh-jih-wih-nih-nee, bug-wuh-jih-nih-nee, or boog-wuh-jee-mun, depending on the tribe
Also known as: Apa'iins, Pai'iins, Pa'iins, or Pahiins all of which literally mean "Little Ones" or "Little People" in Anishinabe languages.
Type: Little people, forest spirits, antagonists (in Wampanoag lore)
Related figures in other tribes: Mikumwess (Micmac), Paissa (Miami)
Pukwudgies are magical little people of the forest in Algonquian folklore, similar to European gnomes or fairies. Pukwudgie stories are told throughout the northeastern United States, southeastern Canada, and the Great Lakes region. However, their nature varies in the folklore of different tribes. In the Ojibwe and other Great Lakes tribes, the pukwudgie (or bagwajinini) is considered a mischievous but basically good-natured creature who plays tricks on people but is not dangerous. In the Abenaki and other northeast Algonquian tribes, a pukwudgie (or bokwjimen) can be dangerous, but only to people who treat him with disrespect. In the Wampanoag and other tribes of southern New England, pukwudgies are capricious and dangerous creatures who may play harmless tricks or even help a human neighbor, but are just as likely to steal children or commit deadly acts of sabotage. According to some Wampanoag stories, pukwudgies were enemies of the culture hero Maushop and were even responsible for his death (or the deaths of his sons.)
Pukwudgies are usually described as being knee-high or even smaller. Their name literally means 'person of the wilderness' and they are usually considered to be spirits of the forest. In some traditions, they have a sweet smell and are associated with flowers. Pukwudgies have magical powers which vary from tribe to tribe but may include the ability to turn invisible, confuse people or make them forget things, shapeshift into cougars or other dangerous animals, or bring harm to people by staring at them.
(09-17-2024, 03:53 PM)GeauxHomeLittleD Wrote: Never encountered them myself but several years ago I read about several encounters with beings matching their description (physical and action wise) in the Pacific Northwest but they were called by a different name- can't remember the name or where I read about them though.
I've heard all kinds of tales from people. I've heard stories about people encountering fairies and gnomes, and other forest spirits, but I've never heard a word about something like this before, other than movie adaptations of similar creatures with similar powers.
This must be where some of that comes from.
(09-17-2024, 08:29 AM)Ninurta Wrote: Mighty bold of you to claim they are "mythological" - they can get downriht unfriendly if they get to feeling slighted!Brother, I was raised in hell. A little forest creature would be fun to piss off. Would be a great story......no one would believe.
Some of the "Little People of the Woods" around here were called the "Moon-Eyed People" There are others, but those stick in my mind.
.
They live.
We sleep.
We sleep.