Nokomis

Nokomis was the name of Hiawatha's grandmother in Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha.

She is an important character in the poem, mentioned in the familiar lines

By the shores of Gitche Gumee,

By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,

Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.

According to the poem, "From the full moon fell Nokomis/Fell the beautiful Nokomis." She bears a daughter, Wenonah. Despite Nokomis' warnings, Wenonah allows herself to be seduced by the West-Wind, Mudjekeewis, "Till she bore a son in sorrow/Bore a son of love and sorrow/Thus was born my Hiawatha."

Abandoned by the heartless Mudjekeewis, Wenonah dies in childbirth, leaving Hiawatha to be raised by Nokomis. "The wrinkled old Nokomis/Nursed the little Hiawatha" and educates him.

The town of Nokomis, Florida is known to be named after her.