A dark and mysterious Native American myth named Mishipeshu comes to life on Grimm. Mishipeshu translates as “The Great Lynx.” But this is no ordinary big cat. It lives underwater. Mishipeshu is described by some Native American tribes, particularly Anishinaabe tribes in the Great Lakes area, as “a giant cat covered in scales and has dagger-like spikes running along its back and tail.”
Legend has it that Mishipishu live in the deepest parts of lakes and rivers in the Great Lakes region. They’re known to guard the vast amounts of copper in Lake Superior. During the 1840s copper rush, it’s believed that Mishipeshu were responsible for causing storms in the lakes which caused several fatal boating accidents. Grimm airs Fridays at 8pm on NBC.
Pictographs of a mishibizhiw as well as two giant serpents (bottom) and a canoe (on the left), from Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Attributed to the Ojibwe.
