"Legend of Superior"

 Many people in Batchawana Bay still believe that the "dragon" exists. This may be a spiritual or an actual existence. Some offer tobacco to the waters to appease him. Some believe that he killed certain relatives that drowned in the water. Some believe that he lives in a tunnel between Griffin Lake and the "Narrows" by Batchawana island.

 

Our local dragon may have been developed as a personal touchable entity by which some people honor Lake Superior with the respect she deserves.

 

In my readings I have come across folklore where people believe that if you are in a storm and look into Lake Superior and see the dragon--you will live. This story promotes the idea that the dragon is protective rather that malicious.

 

There is evidence that many cultures glorify dragons as good (China) and others associate dragons with evil, and/or the unknown (Christian). All waters (Lake Superior) and dragons are associated with an emotional, mysterious, unknown world. An integrated conclusion would be this: The unknown is not bad but can be dangerous- as is Lake Superior.   For some, the dragon represents Lake Superior. 

 

Dragons are very powerful images that evoke conversation and argument from various cultural segments. They spark the imagination and the making of stories and myth.

 

Even some of the Jesuits who lived near/on Lake Superior claimed to have seen the dragon. Many have named this dragon "Misshepezhieu" as pictured at the Agawa pictographs.  Others think that the dragon may look more like the giant snake that many explorer/immigrants claim to have seen in the Great Lakes.

 

Dragon stories exist around big Lakes and Bays all over the world--ei. The Loc Ness Monster.