Azeban facts for kids

Azeban is a fun and clever spirit from the stories of the Abenaki people. The Abenaki are a Native American tribe who traditionally lived in a place they called Wobanakik. This area is now known as northern New England in the United States, and parts of southern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia in Canada.

Azeban is often shown as a raccoon. This spirit is known for being a bit of a trickster. Azeban's name can also be spelled Azban, Asban, or Azaban, and it's pronounced ah-zuh-bahn.

What is Azeban Like?

Azeban loves to play tricks and cause a little mischief. In Abenaki folktales, Azeban does many silly or tricky things. However, unlike some other trickster characters in different cultures, Azeban is not mean or dangerous. Azeban's tricks are usually harmless and often just for fun or to get something like food.

Azeban's Clever Ways

Azeban often uses clever tricks to get what is wanted. This might involve tricking other animals or beings to get food. Sometimes Azeban might trick them into doing favors. These stories teach lessons about being smart and how to deal with tricky situations.

Azeban and the Dogs

There is a special Abenaki story about a woman named Cedar Girl. She was part of the Abenaki's Dawn Land People. Cedar Girl had six dogs, and she named each one based on its unique traits.

The Dog Named Azeban

One of Cedar Girl's dogs was named Azeban. This has sometimes made people think that the Abenaki trickster spirit is a dog. But that's not quite right! Cedar Girl named her dog "Azeban" because the dog acted a lot like the clever raccoon trickster. So, the dog showed the same playful and tricky qualities as the spirit.

Awasosqua's Litter

In the story, the dog named Azeban was one of six puppies. Their mother was Awasosqua, which means Bear Woman. All of Awasosqua's puppies were dogs. They were all given names that described their special characteristics.

• Awasosis (Little Bear)
• Kwaniwibid (Long Tooth)
• Mikwe (Squirrel)
• Moosis (Little Moose)
• Soksemo (Good Nose)

Each name helped to show what kind of personality or skill that dog had.