Where does whiskey jack live in American Gods?
Wisakedjak is a character in the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman, where he is frequently referred to as "Whiskey Jack" (a corruption of this figure's traditional name). In the book, he appears as an old Native man, who lives in a mobile home, somewhere near a Lakota reservation in the badlands with Johnny Appleseed.
Who is Whiskey Jack in the book?
Whiskey Jack is one of the culture heroes of Native American mythology. In the novel, it is implied that he is the same as the Lakota spirit Inktomi.
What Native American names does Whiskey Jack use?
Whiskey Jack insists on using proper Native American names to designate objects and places, calling South Dakota "Lakota land" and a Winnebago car a "Ho Chunk".
What does Whiskey Jack tell Shadow about the gods?
They are on Whiskey Jack's porch as he tells Shadow about Harry Bluejay's death from a diabetic coma while driving. Whiskey Jack explains to Shadow how America is no place for gods because the land is god here. Shadow tells him that the gods are planning on going to war with each other but Whiskey Jack says it will be a bloodbath instead.
Which god is Whiskey Jack?
In American Gods by Neil Gaiman, the character Whiskey Jack appears as a native old man. Jack represents the god Wisakedjak—a Native American trickster god in Algonquian mythology. He was specifically created by the Great Spirits to be a teacher for humankind.
Who is Wisahkecahk?
The Cree word for “sacred story” or “myth” is âtayôhkêwin (in y-dialect), âcathôhkîwin (in th-dialect). Wisahkecahk is often the protagonist of these stories, which often serve to explain some curious aspect of the natural world, or teach some important cultural lesson.
Who is Wesakechak?
Wesakechak is one of the most famous Cree heroes. There are hundreds of endless stories about him. He is a joker, always playing jokes on his brothers and sisters, the animals, plants and rocks. Stories about Wesakechak always have a moral.
Who is Weesageechak?
In Canada, the word has been popularized by anthropologists studying the role of these figures in Indigenous teachings and oral histories. Indigenous peoples call tricksters by their own names, such as Glooscap or Glooskap (Algonquian), Wisakedjak or Weesageechak (Cree) and Nanabush or Nanabozho (Anishinaabe).
Who is Weetigo?
Weetigos are once-human creatures who, after being "infected" with a Weetigo spirit, have an insatiable hunger and an ability to turn other humans into Weetigos. Highway uses allusions to this figure to explore the cycle of abuse, particularly in relation to the character of Gabriel.
How did the moon come to be Metis?
How the Moon Came to Be is part of the Strong Stories: Métis series. Strong Stories focus on different First Nation territories from across Canada and the United States. These stories reflect the belief that our stories are the roots of our people, our lands and our cultures.
Who is the God Wisakedjak?
Wisakedjak is a character in the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman, where he is frequently referred to as "Whiskey Jack" (a corruption of this figure's traditional name). In the book, he appears as an old Native man, who lives in a mobile home, somewhere near a Lakota reservation in the badlands with Johnny Appleseed.
What did the Cree believe in?
What was the religion and beliefs of the Cree tribe? The religion and beliefs of the tribe was based on Animism that encompassed the spiritual or religious idea that the universe and all natural objects animals, plants, trees, rivers, mountains rocks etc have souls or spirits. The people believed in the Great Spirit.
Who is the trickster in Ojibwe culture?
Nanabozho is the Ojibwe trickster figure and culture hero (these two archetypes are often combined into a single figure in First Nations mythologies, among others).
Is Nanabush a trickster?
Nanabozo (Nanabozho or Nanabush) is a culture hero, creator and trickster of various Indigenous oral histories. He is known by a variety of names and appears prominently in many origin tales.
What does a trickster do?
Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both. The trickster openly questions, disrupts or mocks authority. Many cultures have tales of the trickster, a crafty being who uses tricks to get food, steal precious possessions, or simply cause mischief. In some Greek myths Hermes plays the trickster.
What is the main purpose of the Wisakedjak creation story?
Stories about Wisakecahk were told for entertainment and as a way teaching people how not to do things. Here are two examples of such stories. A long time ago, there was no moon. There was only the sun.
Who plays Wisakedjak in American Gods?
A man who appears from the lake, portrayed by Graham Greene ( Oneida ), may be Wiisagejaak himself. Wisakedjak is a character in the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman, where he is frequently referred to as "Whiskey Jack" (a corruption of this figure's traditional name).
What is Wisakedjak's role in mythology?
He is generally portrayed as being responsible for a great flood which destroyed the world.
Where is Wisakedjak from?
Wisakedjak ( Wìsakedjàk in Algonquin, Wīsahkēcāhk (w) in Cree and Wiisagejaak in Oji-cree) is the Crane Manitou found in northern Algonquian and Dene storytelling, similar to the trickster Nanabozho in Ojibwa aadizookaanan (sacred stories), Inktonme in Assiniboine lore, and the Coyote from many different tribes. His name is found in a number of different forms in the related languages and cultures he appears in, including Weesack-kachack, Wisagatcak, Wis-kay-tchach, Wissaketchak, Woesack-ootchacht, Vasaagihdzak, and Weesageechak .
Who is Whiskey Jack?
Whiskey Jack (Wisakedjak) An Algonquin trickster figure who is a “culture hero” rather than a full god. He lives near a Lakota reservation and is mistaken for the Lakota god Iktomi, another trickster. Whiskey Jack offers Shadow wisdom about the magical nature of the American land itself.
Who is Shadow's wife in American Gods?
Laura Moon. Shadow ’s late wife, who begins an affair with Shadow’s best friend Robbie while Shadow is in jail for a heist that Laura engineered and put into action. Laura seems to regret her actions in… read analysis of Laura Moon. Get the entire American Gods LitChart as a printable PDF.
What is the goddess of Easter?
Easter (Eostre) The Germanic goddess of the dawn, who now draws power from the American celebration of Easter—though few mortals actually know that they are honoring her in this spring festival. Easter has power over rebirth, helping to bring Shadow back from the underworld after he sacrifices himself for Odin .
What did Odin do to gain power?
In Norse mythology, Odin attained his power by hanging on a tree… read analysis of Mr. Wednesday (Odin)
Who is the evil god of Norse mythology?
Loki, the trickster and sometimes evil god of Norse Mythology, acts as one of the main antagonists in American Gods. As Low Key Lyesmith, Loki is nothing more than Shadow’s cell mate in jail… read analysis of Mr. World (Low Key Lyesmith / Loki )
Who is the spider god?
One of the most important figures in West African and Caribbean folklore, Anansi is a spider god who embodies the spirit of stories, boasts, and trickery. His worship comes mostly through the oral tradition, as… read analysis of Mr. Nancy (Anansi)
Who is John Chapman?
John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) An American “culture hero” famous for planting apple trees throughout the American west and living peacefully with Native Americans. In the novel, John Chapman is friends with Whiskey Jack and also describes his grief after… read analysis of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed)
Significance in narrative
Wednesday and Shadow arrive at Whiskey Jack 's mobile home after leaving Backstage and encounter Whiskey Jack and John Chapman. They eat dinner while they discuss the oncoming war between the Old Gods and the New Gods with both Chapman and Whiskey Jack refusing to join either side.
Personality
John Chapman is a very friendly man who likes to make people comfortable and joke with them. He is agreable with everyone and doesn't seem to be bothered by people not liking him. He refuses to drink hard liquor, believing it makes people mad: he rather prefers soft cider.
Physical appearance
John Chapman is described as a barefoot man with skin the color of bark, a stubbly chin, and the worst set of teeth Shadow ever saw in a human mouth. Wearing stained buckskins and travelling with a small burlap sack, he walks around bare feet even in the snow and is never seen wearing any kind of shoes.
Relationships
John Chapman is a good friend of Whiskey Jack. When Mr. Wednesday and Shadow first enter Whiskey Jack's mobile home, John Chapman is inside, sharing Whiskey Jack's meal and having brought a gallon of "applejack", soft apple cider.
Cultural background
"Johnny Appleseed" is the nickname of John Chapman, the American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees in several states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia and Ontario).
Overview
In other literature, film and popular culture
In the 1991 film Clearcut, Wiisagejaak is referred to as "the Deceiver" by a First Nations elder named Wilf, portrayed by Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman (Dakota). A man who appears from the lake, portrayed by Graham Greene (Oneida), may be Wiisagejaak himself.
Wisakedjak is a character in the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman, where he is frequently referred to as "Whiskey Jack" (a corruption of this figure's traditional name). In the book, he appe…
In mythology
As with most mythological characters, Wisakedjak is used to explain the creation of animals or geographical locations. He is generally portrayed as being responsible for a great flood which destroyed the world. In other stories he is also one of the beings who created the current world, either on his own, or with magic given to him by the Creator for that specific purpose.
In contemporary indigenous literature and art
Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway (Cree) is a 1998 novel about the author and his brother's childhoods, their trauma resulting from the Canadian Indian residential school system, and his brother's death from AIDS. As the boys struggle to survive, Wisakedjak appears in the form of The Fur Queen, who watches over the boys as they fulfill their destiny to become artists.
In 2010, two-spirit artist Kent Monkman (Cree) created a painting called Weesageechak Teaches …
See also
• Demiurge
• Glooscap
• Nanabozho