A hero in Ojibwa (Chippewa) stories, Nanabozho (the name is also spelled Naanabozho and Nanabozhoo) is a man with special power. Some claim he is the product of a human mother and father, while others say his father is the wind. Though he is subject to the forces of nature such as famine and physical pain, this superman can command the wind and rain, talk to animals and plants, and slay evil spirits. Some authors have characterized Nanabozho as a trickster, though he can more accurately be described as a powerful schemer who tries to manipulate the world and the creatures of the world to his advantage with the assistance of spiritual forces. He embodies both human and supernatural qualities, reflecting the link between people and their creator. One story of this legendary man shows Nanabozho tricking the animals in the forest into feeding him and his family during a time of great famine. Even though he is not recognized as the creator of the world, Nanabozho is also credited with making a new earth after the great flood.
See also
Ojibwa.
