Mishipeshu

The Mishipeshu, also known as an underwanter panther or the great lynx, is a mythical creature that rules over the freshwater lakes in northeastern America. There are legends of this creature in most peoples traditions of the region. Many feared this creature and some worshipped it either to gain its favor or to avoid its wrath.

Physical Description

The Mishipeshu has a feline body covered thick fur, with upright scales on its back. On the head the creature carries antlers of a deer. Around its neck it has colorful feathers coated with waterproof oil.

Dietary needs & habits

The Mishipeshu feeds on fish, large and medium mammals and birds that come close to or into the water. It has a fully carnivorous diet.

Myths & Legends

In the many myths the Mishipeshu is usually considered the master of the water and stands in opposition to thunderbirds. It rules over all the creatures present in the water or some view it as a creature of the underworld.
The Ojibwe believe that the Mishipeshu are guarding the great amounts of copper found in the Great Lakes region and in recent centuries considered it theft to take the copper from the creature.

Theriantrophy

Ojibwe Shamans used the spirit of the Mishipeshu to create a lineage of Therians. These warriors would aid them in fighting various wars against neighbouring peoples and later against the European settlers. However, when a group of werewolf hunters heard of these warriors they started a campaign against them which eventually lead to their extinction. There is no known surviving descendant of this ancestry.

An Endangered Species

These hunter targeted the Mishipeshu itself as well and almost hunted them to extinction. Their feathers turned out to be a valuable material for alchemy and the Mishpeshu would regularly attack human fishers. Today there are only a handfull of individuals in the Great Lakes Region. A larger population migrated into the Adirondack Regions into the larger lakes and sometimes even ponds. This lead to them hunting more often outside of the water, but made it less likely for them to come into contact with humans.
In 2019 the Department of Environmental Conservation declared the species as endangered and made it officially illegal to hunt them. Before that they mostly kept to themselves, but learned to co-exist with humans and avoiding any confrontations with them.

Family

Unknown

Alternative Names

Mishibijiw

Translations

Underwater panther
The Great Lynx

Geographic Distribution

Great Lakes Region, Adirondack Mountains

Conservation Status

Endangered (EN)