Azeban (also spelled Azban, Asban or Azaban), or "the Raccoon," is a lower-level

trickster In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherw ...

spirit in

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

. The traditional homeland of the Abenaki is Wobanakik (''Place of the Dawn''), what is now called northern

New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...

, southern

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Azeban is a

raccoon The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the North American, northern or common raccoon (also spelled racoon) to distinguish it from Procyonina, other species of raccoon, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest ...

, the Abenaki trickster figure. Pronounced ah-zuh-bahn. Azeban does many foolish and/or mischievous things in Abenaki folktales, but unlike animal tricksters in some other tribes, is not dangerous or malevolent. Azeban deceives animals and other beings for food or other services. There is an Abenaki story where a woman names her six dogs after their characteristics. She named one of the dogs Azeban. This woman Cedar Girl of the Abenaki awn Land Peoplenaming her dog "Azeban" has caused some confusion, causing people to assume the Abenaki trickster figure is a dog, not realizing she called the dog Azeban because he has the characteristics of the raccoon, the actual Abenaki Trickster figure. In the story the dog Azeban is one of a litter of six dogs born to Awasosqua (''Bear Woman''). The others are Awasosis (''Little Bear''), Kwaniwibid (''Long Tooth''), Mikwe (''Squirrel''), Moosis (''Little Moose'') and Soksemo (''Good Nose''). All the spirits in Awasosqua's broods are dogs, and are named after their characteristics. In another story, Azeban sees a waterfall and, appreciating its noise, thinks he can make an even louder sound. He shouts until he loses his balance and falls in.

References

Abenaki legendary creatures Animal gods Anthropomorphic raccoons Mythological dogs Trickster gods {{NorthAm-myth-stub