The Little People of the Credit River

Who knows if they are still among us?

The Anishinaabeg of Mississauga believed the Credit River was home to a group of tiny people — we night think of them as elves, sprites, spirits, little people — that they called the Mamagwasewug.

Part of the folklore of many tribes, the Mamagwasewug were known by many names, and were creatures that populated the spirit world of the Cree, Ojibway, Odawa, Algonkin, Innu, Metis and Menominee.

Some believed that the Mamagwasewug could only be seen by children or by medicine people, however the Mississauga maintained that anyone could be lucky (or unlucky) enough to see them. These little beings demanded respect, best demonstrated by bestowing small gifts upon them. The appreciated receiving offerings of tobacco and were particularly fond of pieces of red cloth. 

Those who saw the Mamagwasewug reported that they were small in stature, close to the height of a child. Their faces and bodies were very hairy. With oversized heads and narrow faces, they had no noses. In some stories they had no mouths and had six rather than five fingers. Most agreed that their speech was like the sound of dragonflies droning in summer. The origin of their name may be traced to the Ojibway word for “hairy” (memii) or for “butterfly” (memengwaa).

Some legends state that the Mamagwasewug were created from tree bark. Other traditions maintain they were created as an offshoot of human beings — which agrees with many First Nation beliefs concerning the existence of two humanoid races. 

They were known to carve unusual symbols on trees and rocks, live of the banks of rivers close to small eddies or currents, and ideally near rapids. They traveled by means of small stone canoes and many Mississauga reported seeing their unusual vessels along the Credit River.

Generally thought to be benign, the Mamagwasewug were nonetheless considered tricksters, sometimes jostling the canoes of people passing through their waters. At other times, if not properly respected, they might capsize canues, causing the unlucky travelers to drown.

There were several groups of the Mamagwasewug living by the rivers of the Golden Horseshoe, and one of these communities was situated on the east side of the Credit River (earlier known as Missinnihe or “Trusting River”), about two kilometres north of Lake Ontario.

Not far from that area, further up the Credit River there was a “deep hole in the water” located at the “foot of the pointed hill”. There lived all the water gods and spirits, and over them all was Munedoo (Manitou). As this place the salmon had been abundant, but white settlers began to overfish the area. In anger, Munendoo caused a tremendous floor, and he went out into Lake Ontario, taking the Mamagwasewug with him.

Might a few have remained behind after the flood?

Perhaps.

So… if you hear the drone of a dragonfly or catch a glimpse of a small stone vessel disappearing into the banks of the Credit River, you may have been lucky enough to have encountered the elusive Mamagwasewug.