Wisakedjak facts for kids
Wisakedjak (pronounced Wee-sah-keh-jak) is a special character in the stories of the Algonquian and Dene people in northern Canada. He is often seen as a trickster, a clever character who can sometimes cause trouble but also helps create the world. He is similar to other famous trickster figures like Nanabozho from the Ojibwe people or Coyote and Raven from other tribes. Wisakedjak's name is spelled in many ways, including Weesack-kachack, Wisagatcak, and Weesageechak.
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Wisakedjak in Ancient Stories
In many old stories, Wisakedjak helps explain how animals came to be or how certain places on Earth were formed. He is often linked to a great flood that changed the world. In some tales, he even helped create the world we live in today. Sometimes he did this on his own, and other times he used magic given to him by the Creator.
Wisakedjak in Modern Art and Books
Wisakedjak still appears in books and art by Indigenous artists today.
Kiss of the Fur Queen
The book Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway (a Cree writer) tells the story of two brothers. As they face challenges, Wisakedjak appears as a character called The Fur Queen. The Fur Queen watches over them as they grow up to become artists.
Art by Kent Monkman
In 2010, the artist Kent Monkman (who is Cree) painted a picture called Weesageechak Teaches Hermes How to Trick the Four-Leggeds. In this painting, Wisakedjak is shown as a man wearing purple, high-heeled boots.
Wisakedjak in Movies and Popular Culture
Wisakedjak has also shown up in movies and other popular stories.
Clearcut Film
In the 1991 movie Clearcut, an elder from the First Nations named Wilf calls Wisakedjak "the Deceiver." A mysterious man who comes out of a lake in the film might be Wisakedjak himself.
American Gods Book
Wisakedjak is a character in the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman. In the book, he is often called "Whiskey Jack," which is a changed version of his traditional name. He appears as an old Native man who lives in a mobile home.
See also
In Spanish: Wisakedjak para niños
