Azeban
Azeban is a lower-level trickster spirit in Abenaki mythology. The traditional homeland of the Abenaki is Wobanakik, what is now called northern New England and southern Quebec. Azeban is a raccoon, the Abenaki trickster figure. Pronounced ah-zuh-bahn. Azeban does many foolish and/or mischievous things in Abenaki folktales, but unlike animal tricksters in some other tribes, is not dangerous or malevolent.
Azeban deceives animals and other beings for food or other services.
There is an Abenaki story where a woman names her six dogs after their characteristics. She named one of the dogs Azeban. This woman Cedar Girl of the Abenaki naming her dog "Azeban" has caused some confusion, causing people to assume the Abenaki trickster figure is a dog, not realizing she called the dog Azeban because he has the characteristics of the raccoon, the actual Abenaki Trickster figure.
In the story the dog Azeban is one of a litter of six dogs born to Awasosqua. The others are Awasosis, Kwaniwibid, Mikwe, Moosis and Soksemo. All the spirits in Awasosqua's broods are dogs, and are named after their characteristics.
In Migian, Azeban is a trickster raccoon dog named Amarst.
