Hello Lovelies,
What you know about Wendigo is completely wrong! Let me explain.
The Wendigo originated as a powerful metaphor rooted in multiple indigenous cultures of the Algonquian speaking people like the Ojibwe, Blackfoot, Chippewa, etc. Along with other Native cultures, both in North America and many in Canada.
But did you know the depiction of the Wendigo we know today is wildly incorrect?
In modern-day folklore, the Wendigo is a forest spirit that can possess or stalk a human, causing them to commit unspeakable acts like murder and cannibalism for no other reason than to cause chaos. The figure itself is described with deer-like features, a skull for a face, antlers, yellow eyes, razor sharp claws, etc.
However, in traditional indigenous folklore, the Wendigo is regarded as a gaunt humanoid creature representing one's greed and selfishness, or desperation to survive by any means necessary. The Folktale is slightly different between the indigenous cultures, some even lost to time and the twisting of it's origin due to modern horror stories.
The Wendigo, also known as a Windigo (Ojibwe) is a cautionary tale about a human who has become a cannibalistic murderer (or turn Wendigo) in order to survive the harshness of winter. Some cultures speak of a mythical creature that continues to grow in height after each meal it consumes. Never growing full, always needing more. Some speak of it as a person who's become prone to cannibalistic tendencies, or exceedingly horrendous behaviors.
Like the different versions of the story, the creature’s name has had many spellings over the years as well. For example, in Ojibwe, their spelling of Wendigo varies from Windigo, Windigoo, Windigog, etc. And most of the spellings translates to “giant” or "winter cannibal monster." There is also speculation that the name might have originated from the proto-Algonquian word wi-nteko-wa, loosely translating to "owl." The translations significance to Wendigo is that some (not all) Indigenous cutlers view owls as the symbol of death. Hearing an owl in the dead of night is also considered a bad omen. Which explains it’s relation to Wendigo.
Yet, despite the multiple versions of the story and spellings of Wendigo the underlying theme is constant. The tale of the Wendigo warns against gluttony, greed, and cannibalism, especially during times of survival when food scarcity is a higher risk. Which is why the Wendigo, if depicted at all, is an ashen grey winter based creature with gaunt features. A walking corpse, never full, always searching for more. One of the reasons for it's scarce description and imagery (aside form colonization) is due to it's association with bad luck. Just speaking of the Wendigo could cause misfortune or even summon the creature. Making it a cultural taboo to speak it’s name.
The additional animalistic features were a Western addition. One that is theorized to have begun around 1910 due to a short story written by Algernon Blackwood called "The Wendigo," featuring the horned version of the creature. Not only did it twist the creature's original folktale. Blackwood's short story also demonized indigenous people and their culture.
Due to Blackwood's story, and his blatant dislike and horrendous racist depiction of indigenous people and their culture. His story, "The Wendigo" stuck, shaping the creature into what it is today. Effectively staining its true meaning and significance.
From there the Wendigo began morphing into a completely different creature with help form European styled folklore like the Yeti, Ghouls, Strigoi, etc. Then Marvel created a Wendigo styled creature with more of a hairy humanoid form similar to Bigfoot.
Now, in modern-day horror and fantasy genres, the Wendigo is renowned as a horrific creature with little to no human resemblance. One that stands 15 feet tall, hairy, with deer like features, yellow eyes, etc. One that murders without reason, targeting ungrateful and neglectful families and children with it’s only goal being chaos.
Which, in my opinion, is nothing compared to the original folktale. Sure, a 15 foot tall creature is terrifying in its own right. But the concept of the right circumstances pushing a person to take another person's life? Or in an extreme situation, eating a person? Horrendous. I can't begin to fathom ones mental state to commit murder, or cannibalism. Unlike the horned monster with glowing yellow eyes, cannibals are very real.
However, ignorance is vastly more dangerous than a mythical creature, which is why white washing the Wendigo was never truly about the Folktale. It was about the indigenous cultures. What better way to dehumanize a group of people than to villainize their culture and spirituality?
All this to say, I will not be using the Wendigo as inspiration for my 2025 GoreTober challenge. Instead I plan to create my own forest creature because I don't want to add to the white washing of this story.
Thank you to those who reached out to inform me about the Indigenous take back movement in the horror genre. And how Indigenous people are in the process of reclaiming their history and folktales within pop culture media and horror. These stories are theirs to tell however way they see fit, so let’s listen.
Until next time Art Cult,
Suzen's Art Shop LLC
