Jiibayaabooz (in syllabics: ) in a figure in Ojibwe mythology, also known as Chipiapoos or Cheeby-aub-oozoo, meaning "Spirit Rabbit" or "Ghost of Rabbit." The figure also appears in

Abenaki mythology The Abenaki people are an indigenous peoples of the Americas located in the Northeastern Woodlands region. Their religious beliefs are part of the ''Midewiwin'' tradition, with ceremonies led by medicine keepers, called ''Medeoulin'' or ''Mdawi ...

Mateguas, meaning "Rabbit." This figure is a trickster spirit and figures prominently in their storytelling, including the story of the world's creation. Depending on the tradition, he was either the second or third son^:37 of ''Wiininwaa'' ("Nourishment"), a human mother, and ''E-bangishimog'' ("In the West"), a spirit father. Stories regarding Jiibayaabooz are filled with all things mystical and spiritual. While alive, Jiibayaabooz was obsessed with manitous and humans' interaction with each other. Through his regular communication with the manitous through dreams, he taught humans the importance of dreams and the methods of communication with the manitou. As with any little brother, he was subjected to his elder brother Majiikiwis's taunts. However, Majiikiwis actions went further, as Jiibayaabooz died as a result of a dare from his elder brother. Even in death, his ''jiibay'' ("Ghost") continued with obsession with the manitous and taught the humans the rites and ceremonies of

vision quest A vision quest is a rite of passage in some Native American cultures. It is usually only undertaken by young males entering adulthood. Individual Indigenous cultures have their own names for their rites of passage. "Vision quest" is an English- ...

s and purification ceremonies.

Basil Johnston Basil H. Johnston (13 July 1929 – 8 September 2015) was a Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) and Canadian writer, storyteller, language teacher and scholar. Biography Johnston was born July 13, 1929 on the Parry Island Indian Reserve to Rufus and Mary (n ...

also adds that Jiibayaabooz became the "Chief of the Underworld" and "bequeathed the spirit of music, chants, and poetry to the Anishinaubae peoples."^:49 Among the

Abenaki The Abenaki (Abenaki: ''Wαpánahki'') are an Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands of Canada and the United States. They are an Algonquian-speaking people and part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Eastern Abenaki language was predom ...

s, Mateguas from the dead taught his living brother Gluskab the rites and ceremonies of

s and purification ceremonies to comfort his grieving brother. This became the core of the

Midewiwin The Midewiwin (in syllabics: , also spelled ''Midewin'' and ''Medewiwin'') or the Grand Medicine Society is a secretive religion of some of the indigenous peoples of the Maritimes, New England and Great Lakes regions in North America. Its prac ...

rituals that Gluskab then passed onto the humans.

Notes

References

{{Reflist Abenaki mythology Algonquian mythology Underworld gods Trickster gods Mythological rabbits and hares Anishinaabe mythology