Great Manitou

Algonquin religion

Also known as: Kitchi-Manitou

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

In Algonquian-speaking cultures of North America, manitou refers to the spiritual power that permeates the world. This power is believed to be present in natural elements like animals, plants, and weather phenomena. These manitous can be personified as spirit-beings that interact with humans and each other.1

The Great Manitou (Kitchi-Manitou) is considered the supreme being or leader among these spirits. The concept of manitou was significant in early anthropological theories of animism, a religious system common among indigenous peoples.1

Additionally, some Subarctic peoples believed in a pervasive power called manitou that individuals could harness. The term "Great Manitou" likely evolved from an older idea, possibly influenced by missionaries, to denote a personal god.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

nature worship
Nature as a sacred totality
…numerous manitous (powers), with a Great Manitou (Kitchi-Manitou) at the head. These manitous may even be designated as protective spirits akin to those of other North American Indians, such as the digi of the Apache, boha of the Shoshone, and maxpe of the Crow, as well as the sila of…
Read More
…numerous manitous (powers), with a Great Manitou (Kitchi-Manitou) at the head. These manitous may even be designated as protective spirits akin to those of other North American Indians, such as the digi of the Apache, boha of the Shoshone, and maxpe of the Crow, as well as the sila of…
Read More