Manitou Arts Foundation
Manitou () is the fundamental life force in the theologies of Algonquian peoples. It is said to be omnipresent and manifests everywhere: organisms, the environment, events, etc. ''Aashaa monetoo'' means "good spirit", while ''otshee monetoo'' means "bad spirit". When Turtle Island was created, the Great Spirit, ''Aasha Monetoo'', gave the land to the indigenous peoples. Overview Manitou was widely used during early European contact. In 1585, when Thomas Harriot recorded the first glossary of an Algonquian language, Roanoke (Pamlico), he included the word ''mantóac'', meaning "gods and goddesses". Similar terms are found in nearly all Algonquian languages. In some Algonquian traditions, ''Gitche Manitou'' refers to a supreme being. The term has analogues dating to before European contact, and the word uses of ''gitche'' and ''manitou'' existed before contact. After contact, however, Gitche Manitou was adopted by some Anishinaabe, such as the Ojibwe, to refer to the supre ...
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