Post by Okwes on Apr 14, 2008 12:06:09 GMT -5
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg : Little People - Malecite / Tobique
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg are sort of magical little beings, something like the
Leprechauns of Ireland, who appear to certain people at certain times in
certain places in many Native communities.
Little People: Geow-Lud-Mo-Sis-Eg
By Pat Paul
In many native communities you will always find a person or two who could
tell either a personal story or would know someone who has met or made some
kind of a contact with the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg.
Some people say that the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg represent some kind of an omen,
either good or bad, that can happen to the person who sees them. They can
scare the wits out of some people while others don't get too excited over
seeing them.
A lot of this fear is based on a person's kind of upbringing or personal
convictions. If you happen to be a superstitious kind of a person who has
always followed a strict and narrow order of spiritual leaning, the
appearance of the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg could touch-off a shade of apprehension
or intimidation which in turn could transform to negative outcomes.
These negative outcomes could possibly lead to kind of personal imbalance or
disharmony, because you unconsciously allow negativity to seep in. Whereas
if the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg should appear to a person who is positive,
open-minded, receptive and less spiritually constricted, the results could
be rewarding.
In other words, it all depends on the state-of-mind of the person who sees
them. Fear of them could stir negative impulses, while openness and
acceptance could work out quite pleasantly for a person.
SOME DOCUMENTATION
Back in the 1950s there was a book written by an author named Edmond Wilson
called 'Apologies to the Iroquois', which explained some of the myths and
legends of the Iroquois concerning these little beings. In that book, Mr
Wilson talks about the existence of at least two tribes of these little
creatures who live among the Iroquois, namely with the Tuscaroras of the New
York State. The book talks about the tribe of Healers and Tricksters.
Apparently the Healer tribe can do some super marvellous things for a person
who may be stricken or inflicted with some kind of physical ailment,
sickness or such things as open flesh wounds, skin disorders or other
visible bodily malfunctions.
The Healers reportedly are able to correct these malfunctions and disorders
quite easily just by a person's request and a gift of tobacco to them.
On the other hand, the tribe of Tricksters do their thing by playing pranks
and tricks on people. They would often do their tricks in the middle of the
night just to make a person's hair stand on end. Little tricks like thumping
on the side of your camp or canoe, braiding horse manes, tying up clothes on
the clothes line, or a stone thrown into the still waters where you are
quietly fishing might be the types of tricks the Tricksters would play on
people. Little games such as these would be the harmless variety of
mischievous activities that could be expected of the Tricksters.
They, like the Healers, can be appeased with a small gift of tobacco placed
on the ground near or where the pranks are taking place. The tricks will
then stop immediately after the giving of the tobacco.
Among the Maliseet people, the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg are often seen beside or
near water places like river banks, marshy grounds, brooksides or
lakeshores. It's been said also that domestic animals such as cows and
horses become attracted to them. Their mischief would entail very fine
braiding of strands of hair on the tails of the domestic animals. So barns
and stables would be some of the areas where they can appear or show their
workmanship.
Some people who fear the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg and fall victim to tricks or
pranks can become very fearful or openly shaken when the little creatures
make their appearance to them and many times unpleasant events result. But
others have experienced personal healings, good health and good fortune
following their contact.
For some reason the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg don't seem to make their appearance
as frequently in these modern 1994 times as they used to in the early part
of this century. For instance, in researching this article only the elders
relate stories of having seen their braiding workmanship. One particular
elder who is seventy-plus talks about the time when his family was visited
by them.
In that case the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg left these fine, rounded, braids on his
mother's clothes on the clothesline, which he and his brother unbraided to
remove from the line. Later sightings have since been rumoured but not
confirmed with the exception of the following.
THE STEP AND TUNNEL
Some elders at Tobique recall their old swimming hole 'mus-kum-odesk' where
they used to swim, play and frolic. Mus-kum-odesk is a solid rock and ledge
area of the reserve where this strange rock design is located.
Right in the middle of this huge rock-ledge formation is an 18" x 18" block
section that is missing as if a person had taken a saw or some kind of a
cutter to carve out and remove it, leaving a step-like or a seat-like
formation remaining there that the swimmers used to play around for years.
Directly under the 'step' or 'seat' is a tunnel-like opening, or a small 18"
diameter hole that goes - god knows where, and is always very black and
spooky inside. No one, as I recall, ever explored the tunnel for fear of the
ob-o-dum-kin (a reputed legendary or mythical water creature), or the
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg. Some say that both, the step and the tunnel, are
creations of the Little People who are reputed to be always around water
areas, such as swimming holes, near lakes, rivers, brooks, etc., much like
the famous Leprechauns of Ireland.
In 1953 through to 1959 two hydroelectric dams were constructed in the
Tobique area and many places where Native people often frequented were
flooded over, including the step and the tunnel locations. No pictures
exist, to my knowledge, showing this unique area that once used to mystify
so many people. The step and tunnel also have never been thoroughly
researched nor has adequate explanation of their origin, except for the
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg angle.
RAIN FIRE
One elder who now has passed away looked out of his back window and saw
about three of these Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg having a 'good old time' around a
fireplace area in the back of his house. But the eerie part of this tale is
that it was well after midnight and it was pouring 'cats and dogs' in a
summer rainstorm and the Little People's fire was apparently not one bit
affected by the tons of water coming down on it. The elder said he sort of
got a chilly feeling as he and his wife looked at this unusual scene, but
left things be and went to bed pondering on what they just had witnessed.
This apparently was one true sighting.
VISITATION
Another strange event that took place in the same house as referred to
above, was the visitation of these Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg to a lady living
there. In this case, the lady happened to look out of the front door window
one cloudy evening and saw four little folks, three boys and one girl,
dressed ever so neatly with the girl in a yellow blouse, walking up the
driveway towards the house. The lady of the house wondered what all of this
was about and became very curious. The main entrance to the house normally
is through the back door, and she assumed that the little guys were headed
for the back door as she saw them disappearing around the corner. She then
went to the back door to see where these four little creatures would be
going. As she opened the door, two childlike little people were out there in
the yard, jumping for joy, with their arms just a flying and swinging.
Due to her deafness, the woman couldn't tell if the little ones were making
any sounds as they jumped.
For a moment she said she turned to call her husband and the little ones
just vanished. Next she saw them walking down the front driveway heading
back to their camp. She did however caution them to be careful of speeding
cars as they crossed the road in front of the house. The woman has been deaf
since the 1960s, but is still able to speak perfectly. She watched them as
they crossed the road and disappear down towards a hollow area and on to the
river. Some young people died soon after, she said.
In conclusion therefore, there is ample evidence that these little beings
are around Native communities in New Brunswick as well as other Native
places in the continent. As indicated earlier, a person's lot could be well
rewarded in one situation, while the opposite or negative outcomes could
result in another. It all depends on the attitude or the spirit taken when
one sees the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg.
If you happen to see one one day, be on the positive side and the
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg will reward you for it.
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg are sort of magical little beings, something like the
Leprechauns of Ireland, who appear to certain people at certain times in
certain places in many Native communities.
Little People: Geow-Lud-Mo-Sis-Eg
By Pat Paul
In many native communities you will always find a person or two who could
tell either a personal story or would know someone who has met or made some
kind of a contact with the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg.
Some people say that the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg represent some kind of an omen,
either good or bad, that can happen to the person who sees them. They can
scare the wits out of some people while others don't get too excited over
seeing them.
A lot of this fear is based on a person's kind of upbringing or personal
convictions. If you happen to be a superstitious kind of a person who has
always followed a strict and narrow order of spiritual leaning, the
appearance of the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg could touch-off a shade of apprehension
or intimidation which in turn could transform to negative outcomes.
These negative outcomes could possibly lead to kind of personal imbalance or
disharmony, because you unconsciously allow negativity to seep in. Whereas
if the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg should appear to a person who is positive,
open-minded, receptive and less spiritually constricted, the results could
be rewarding.
In other words, it all depends on the state-of-mind of the person who sees
them. Fear of them could stir negative impulses, while openness and
acceptance could work out quite pleasantly for a person.
SOME DOCUMENTATION
Back in the 1950s there was a book written by an author named Edmond Wilson
called 'Apologies to the Iroquois', which explained some of the myths and
legends of the Iroquois concerning these little beings. In that book, Mr
Wilson talks about the existence of at least two tribes of these little
creatures who live among the Iroquois, namely with the Tuscaroras of the New
York State. The book talks about the tribe of Healers and Tricksters.
Apparently the Healer tribe can do some super marvellous things for a person
who may be stricken or inflicted with some kind of physical ailment,
sickness or such things as open flesh wounds, skin disorders or other
visible bodily malfunctions.
The Healers reportedly are able to correct these malfunctions and disorders
quite easily just by a person's request and a gift of tobacco to them.
On the other hand, the tribe of Tricksters do their thing by playing pranks
and tricks on people. They would often do their tricks in the middle of the
night just to make a person's hair stand on end. Little tricks like thumping
on the side of your camp or canoe, braiding horse manes, tying up clothes on
the clothes line, or a stone thrown into the still waters where you are
quietly fishing might be the types of tricks the Tricksters would play on
people. Little games such as these would be the harmless variety of
mischievous activities that could be expected of the Tricksters.
They, like the Healers, can be appeased with a small gift of tobacco placed
on the ground near or where the pranks are taking place. The tricks will
then stop immediately after the giving of the tobacco.
Among the Maliseet people, the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg are often seen beside or
near water places like river banks, marshy grounds, brooksides or
lakeshores. It's been said also that domestic animals such as cows and
horses become attracted to them. Their mischief would entail very fine
braiding of strands of hair on the tails of the domestic animals. So barns
and stables would be some of the areas where they can appear or show their
workmanship.
Some people who fear the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg and fall victim to tricks or
pranks can become very fearful or openly shaken when the little creatures
make their appearance to them and many times unpleasant events result. But
others have experienced personal healings, good health and good fortune
following their contact.
For some reason the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg don't seem to make their appearance
as frequently in these modern 1994 times as they used to in the early part
of this century. For instance, in researching this article only the elders
relate stories of having seen their braiding workmanship. One particular
elder who is seventy-plus talks about the time when his family was visited
by them.
In that case the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg left these fine, rounded, braids on his
mother's clothes on the clothesline, which he and his brother unbraided to
remove from the line. Later sightings have since been rumoured but not
confirmed with the exception of the following.
THE STEP AND TUNNEL
Some elders at Tobique recall their old swimming hole 'mus-kum-odesk' where
they used to swim, play and frolic. Mus-kum-odesk is a solid rock and ledge
area of the reserve where this strange rock design is located.
Right in the middle of this huge rock-ledge formation is an 18" x 18" block
section that is missing as if a person had taken a saw or some kind of a
cutter to carve out and remove it, leaving a step-like or a seat-like
formation remaining there that the swimmers used to play around for years.
Directly under the 'step' or 'seat' is a tunnel-like opening, or a small 18"
diameter hole that goes - god knows where, and is always very black and
spooky inside. No one, as I recall, ever explored the tunnel for fear of the
ob-o-dum-kin (a reputed legendary or mythical water creature), or the
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg. Some say that both, the step and the tunnel, are
creations of the Little People who are reputed to be always around water
areas, such as swimming holes, near lakes, rivers, brooks, etc., much like
the famous Leprechauns of Ireland.
In 1953 through to 1959 two hydroelectric dams were constructed in the
Tobique area and many places where Native people often frequented were
flooded over, including the step and the tunnel locations. No pictures
exist, to my knowledge, showing this unique area that once used to mystify
so many people. The step and tunnel also have never been thoroughly
researched nor has adequate explanation of their origin, except for the
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg angle.
RAIN FIRE
One elder who now has passed away looked out of his back window and saw
about three of these Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg having a 'good old time' around a
fireplace area in the back of his house. But the eerie part of this tale is
that it was well after midnight and it was pouring 'cats and dogs' in a
summer rainstorm and the Little People's fire was apparently not one bit
affected by the tons of water coming down on it. The elder said he sort of
got a chilly feeling as he and his wife looked at this unusual scene, but
left things be and went to bed pondering on what they just had witnessed.
This apparently was one true sighting.
VISITATION
Another strange event that took place in the same house as referred to
above, was the visitation of these Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg to a lady living
there. In this case, the lady happened to look out of the front door window
one cloudy evening and saw four little folks, three boys and one girl,
dressed ever so neatly with the girl in a yellow blouse, walking up the
driveway towards the house. The lady of the house wondered what all of this
was about and became very curious. The main entrance to the house normally
is through the back door, and she assumed that the little guys were headed
for the back door as she saw them disappearing around the corner. She then
went to the back door to see where these four little creatures would be
going. As she opened the door, two childlike little people were out there in
the yard, jumping for joy, with their arms just a flying and swinging.
Due to her deafness, the woman couldn't tell if the little ones were making
any sounds as they jumped.
For a moment she said she turned to call her husband and the little ones
just vanished. Next she saw them walking down the front driveway heading
back to their camp. She did however caution them to be careful of speeding
cars as they crossed the road in front of the house. The woman has been deaf
since the 1960s, but is still able to speak perfectly. She watched them as
they crossed the road and disappear down towards a hollow area and on to the
river. Some young people died soon after, she said.
In conclusion therefore, there is ample evidence that these little beings
are around Native communities in New Brunswick as well as other Native
places in the continent. As indicated earlier, a person's lot could be well
rewarded in one situation, while the opposite or negative outcomes could
result in another. It all depends on the attitude or the spirit taken when
one sees the Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg.
If you happen to see one one day, be on the positive side and the
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg will reward you for it.