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I've pestered my husband to write a book on the legends, myths and rumors of small people around the world for decades. Every culture on the planet holds dear stories of a group of small people that have unrivaled engineering skills that work during the night and live underground or in caves to stay safe from larger humans. These legendary people, If treated with reverence and respect, are known to give away treasures, or point the way to veins of gold, or build vital infrastructure overnight.
Maybe it's because I've always been on the short side, measuring about five foot two standing on my tippy toes, but I've always felt a connection to this lore and these mystical people.
Let's get into it.
A Great Article Is the PERFECT Place to Start
I found a great article that feels like the perfect place to begin. From Eagle's Rest Park dot org, Don and Diane Wells write;
"The Folklore and Legends of many Native American Tribes and indigenous people from other countries include the stories of the Little People. The Little People live in the woods and are often thought to be hairy-faced dwarfs. Some are no higher than your knee; others are smaller. They build houses in the rock structures under the trees, along streams and sometimes in the trees. They hide from anyone coming into the forest. In the legends of the old countries, they are called Fairies, Brownies, Gnomes, Goblins, Leprechauns, and Pixies to name just a few. Each Native American Tribe has their own name for them. To the Iroquois, they are called Jogahoh; to the Comanche, they are called Nunnupi and to the Cherokee, they are the Yunwi Tsundi."
Show Sources and Materials
Dwarves and Gnomes and More, by Don and Diane Wells, for Eagle's Rest Park
Legend of the Tennessee Pygmies (and their tiny stone graves
Strange Tales of Captured Fairies, Gnomes, and Other Mysterious Little People, Mysterious Universe, B. Swancer
Beware of the Tommyknockers (an ancient legend as told by Annette Bromley of ABC Tales dot com
Tommyknockers, from Astonishing Legends dot com
Alaska Village to Village: Alaska Myths: The Little People
Hawaii's Menehune, Astonishing Legends dot com
Anxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved.
But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog.
Hero Organizations:
80,000 Hours
Center for Humane Technologies
Curious Cat Crew on Socials:
Curious Cat on Twitter (X)
Curious Cat on Instagram
Curious Cat on TikTok
By Jennifer HotesSend a text
I've pestered my husband to write a book on the legends, myths and rumors of small people around the world for decades. Every culture on the planet holds dear stories of a group of small people that have unrivaled engineering skills that work during the night and live underground or in caves to stay safe from larger humans. These legendary people, If treated with reverence and respect, are known to give away treasures, or point the way to veins of gold, or build vital infrastructure overnight.
Maybe it's because I've always been on the short side, measuring about five foot two standing on my tippy toes, but I've always felt a connection to this lore and these mystical people.
Let's get into it.
A Great Article Is the PERFECT Place to Start
I found a great article that feels like the perfect place to begin. From Eagle's Rest Park dot org, Don and Diane Wells write;
"The Folklore and Legends of many Native American Tribes and indigenous people from other countries include the stories of the Little People. The Little People live in the woods and are often thought to be hairy-faced dwarfs. Some are no higher than your knee; others are smaller. They build houses in the rock structures under the trees, along streams and sometimes in the trees. They hide from anyone coming into the forest. In the legends of the old countries, they are called Fairies, Brownies, Gnomes, Goblins, Leprechauns, and Pixies to name just a few. Each Native American Tribe has their own name for them. To the Iroquois, they are called Jogahoh; to the Comanche, they are called Nunnupi and to the Cherokee, they are the Yunwi Tsundi."
Show Sources and Materials
Dwarves and Gnomes and More, by Don and Diane Wells, for Eagle's Rest Park
Legend of the Tennessee Pygmies (and their tiny stone graves
Strange Tales of Captured Fairies, Gnomes, and Other Mysterious Little People, Mysterious Universe, B. Swancer
Beware of the Tommyknockers (an ancient legend as told by Annette Bromley of ABC Tales dot com
Tommyknockers, from Astonishing Legends dot com
Alaska Village to Village: Alaska Myths: The Little People
Hawaii's Menehune, Astonishing Legends dot com
Anxious about AI? Take two minutes to contact your local politician and ask them to tap the brakes on this technology. Still worried? Contact one of the orgs below and get involved.
But for today, hug your kid, cook food and really breathe in deep as it simmers, walk in nature, brush a cat, donate to the food bank, brew a cup of tea, or draw a five-minute portrait of your dog.
Hero Organizations:
80,000 Hours
Center for Humane Technologies
Curious Cat Crew on Socials:
Curious Cat on Twitter (X)
Curious Cat on Instagram
Curious Cat on TikTok