Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin and Timagami Ojibwa

A few fairly typical Algonquin myths relating the exploits of Wiske·djak were taken down in the summer of 1913 from Benjamin Mackenzie of the Timiskaming band. He had learned them when a young man from Algonquins near Dumoine lake at the head of Dumoine river. These versions are also current at Timiskaming, as I found by testing a few incidents with other informants, who, however, knew only of fragments. These myths also are not considered entirely complete.

The trickster-transformer Wiske·djak “meat bird” is the personified Canada Jay or “Whisky Jack” (Perisoreus sp.). He is not in the least altruistic, though he seems to have in mind some provision for the Indians, as appears more particularly in story number 4. For the most part his transformations are semi-accidental. It seems hardly worth while at the present time to comment in detail on the transformer concept here, as it is my intention to pursue investigations further in this general area, in which the transformer appears under various titles. At Timagami, for instance, he is called Nenebuc or wi·ske·′; at Mattagami, he is We·′micuze·‵hwa or Nenebuc. The name Wiske·djak and its variants seem to be more or less characteristic of the Algonquin bands, in which respect they resemble the Cree. A secondary hero personage here is Ci′ŋgəbis, the Horned Grebe (Colymbus auritus).

It is important to note, in dealing with myths in this area, that the scenes of the trickster-transformer’s adventures always lay in well known localities within the territory of the band among which the story is told. These vary considerably, so that the stories have to be gathered independently from each band before any thorough comparison can be attempted. In these myths the scene of action commences with Dumoine lake, Ki·we·′goma “Turn-back lake.” The other geographical references are as follows. The beaver’s cabin in the first story is a high round-topped mountain near the lake. Then came Coulonge river and Pembroke lakes. The Calumet chutes are below Allumette island in Ottawa river; they are called Apwa′ganiba‵utək“Pipe rapids,” because the stone at that place is suitable for making pipes and was there sought by the Indians for this purpose. The big river referred to is Ottawa river, Ki′tcisi·′bi “big river,” down which Wiske·djak’s course seems to have been. Other general qualities of the transformer attributed to him by the Indians were given by the informant and appear at the end of the cycle.