Encounter Atlas
Memekwesiw (plural memekwesiwak) are little people in the traditions of the Cree. They are described as small water spirits about the size of young children, living among river rocks and rapids, and are often said to have no noses. They are tricksters who like to play pranks, but they are not usually dangerous unless treated without respect, when they might capsize a canoe.
The name is pronounced differently across Cree dialects, and English books often spell it Mannegishi. In some Cree communities the word apiscinis, 'little person', is used for the same beings. They are closely related to the memegwesi of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), who are also said to live by the water.
Care is needed with popular accounts. The widely repeated description of Mannegishi with huge heads, spindly limbs and six fingers does not seem to come from Cree sources, and it is often borrowed to explain modern sightings like the Dover Demon. This page follows the Cree descriptions.
What witnesses report
- Splashing or laughter near rapids
- A canoe tipped without cause
- Small, child-sized figures on river rocks
Famous cases
Seen the Memekwesiw?
Tell us what happened. Every report is read by a person before it goes on the map, and you can stay anonymous.
