The paper concludes that employing the Wendigo as a caveless creature is a common practice within horror as it easily creates a villain for white protagonists to defeat repeatedly. Posts and comments should be substantive, and assertions backed in fact or personal lived experience. I think she knew that her decision would be challenged and she wanted to let people know that she had valid reasons for doing what she did. <> On top of that, the wendigo is a part of death. That is why we know about the wendigo today, it is an oral tradition like all the . It has no place in the world of Folklore and monsters. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you do go as a specific person, avoid figures of religious or cultural significance to a particular group to which you do not belong. Smith and Fiore detail that, among the Cree and northernmost Ojibwa, it is a feared creature because it is understood as both a 'mythic character' and as a threat to humans (2010: 68). Political correctness started out as one thing, a good thing. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 And besides that, it never hurts to include your sources. Indigenous, endobj I dont know who originally posted it, or where. How stupid to think otherwise. Appropriating the Wendigo As it so happens, I am currently working on a project involving a Wendigo, so this is personal to me. Scan this QR code to download the app now. symL,JyvCq;[H~! Far from just being a monster in an escapist horror flick, Forbes and LaDuke demonstrate that the wendigo can help us grasp the horrors of our real world so we can be here now and, ultimately, work toward solutions. In most traditions, the wendigo is human in origin and becomes a monster through a process that results either from acts of starvation-induced cannibalism or from possession by a spirit. x\o7a_h ss+yHL$eW}gfw)$/D !;n*+v}}uSU|.&-y Finally, it's just not that hard to do two minutes of. After thinking about it more, I think I get it about the wendigos. This space is not for debate. 3. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(443401, 'c61f3219-a9f3-4b0c-95ea-f614a80c184b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Pictured above: A portion of the poster for the film Antlers (Fox Searchlight, 2021). In this paper, I document the depictions of windigo in Native American mythology, those of Western literature, and the effects of appropriation and misrepresentation on Native communities. The Wendigo may be a figure from American Indian mythology, but it belongs to all of humankind. 0000012791 00000 n 0000004071 00000 n 2. 17spaz 2 yr. ago HeyYaIQ 21 days ago. The moral lessons contained in wendigo stories are also used to support the task of social critique in the late Native American scholar Dr. Jack D. Forbes' book Columbus and Other Cannibals: The Wtiko Disease of Exploitation, Imperialism, and Terrorism (1978).There, he uses the cannibalistic wendigo as a metaphor for the behaviors and attitudes central to patterns of social domination . The wendigo is intended to embody hunger, particularly as refracted through the icy cold of winter and the monstrous things that people do when their appetites overwhelm them. George warns those who are leaving about the Wendigo myth: anyone who consumes the flesh of their enemies takes their strength but becomes a demon cursed by an insatiable hunger for more human flesh. %%EOF When the soldiers reach Ives' cave, Boyd and Reich investigate. I read some stuff yesterday saying that teepees are cultural appropriation and there was a long post about how wendigos arent cryptids and how stories about them are cultural appropriation. Privacy Policy. 0000012030 00000 n So yeah, if anyone could offer any insight/information, thatd be appreciated. It was intended to be a lesson on human greed and the damage it can cause. Copyright (c) 2022 Francesca Amee Johnson, https://doi.org/10.31273/reinvention.v15iS1.906, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, Accepts submissions from any undergraduate student, worldwide, including student-staff collaborations (student must be lead author), Edited by students and staff at the University of Warwick and Monash University. Thats just asking for trouble.) Scan this QR code to download the app now. 0000020040 00000 n One does not need to delve very deeply into the annals of American film, television, and literature to find an array of caricatured depictions of Native American peoples and a distortion of their knowledge. Handle the characters and the story with respect. The Wendigo happens to be part of my own (Anishiinaabe) cultural heritage. (A friend sent this screenshot to me, along with the info, because he knows how much PC-ism pisses me off. 0000005961 00000 n By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Dollightful's Wendigo Doll - Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation? It can serve as a metaphor explaining any pattern of domination by which groups subjugate and dominate or violently destroy and displace. 4 0 obj Have you encountered wendigo stories in films, television shows, or books? 0000007047 00000 n the origins don't even depict the w*ndigo with deer antlers, but a human with bitten off lips. Only assholes think thats offensive. It has become something else altogether. Check it out here:https://youtu.be/fHE4fkvUpWMI really just made this video to express how I am currently feeling about the wendigo doll situation and the questions I have about it. Im just struggling to understand the significance of it. Cultural appropriation is the co-optation of elements, customs, or practices of one culture by another culture without acknowledgment or consent. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.32 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Usually, the appropriating culture is in a relation of domination to the appropriated culture. In a report from the Contemporary Folklore conference covered in issue 388 of FORTEAN TIMES, the go-to magazine for all things paranormal, weird, or unexplained, a complaint is voiced about the "cultural appropriation" of the Wendigo, likening it to the "sexualization" of the Mothman statue in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Basically, the wendigo was supposed to be a creature you didn't even say the name of or else you could draw the attention of one. Answer (1 of 6): First and foremost, I'm not telling you this because I personally have a problem with you dressing as a wendigo for a cryptid fair, but we are living in an age of cancel culture where a costume you sported ten years ago might be used against you. 0000009056 00000 n Not only is it not offensive, I LOVE seeing references to wendigos in popular culture! His line of questioning effectively asks what if the monstrosity we face is actually not an otherworldly presence but our all too human selves?. Facing History and Ourselves invites educators to explore our case study Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools, particularly our reading "Culture, Stereotypes, and Identity" which features reflection questions surrounding some of the stereotypical media representations that we touch upon at the beginning of this essay. 0000009596 00000 n Learn how your comment data is processed. By Christian Chiakulas, Contributor Writer, musician, activist, single father from Chicago. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 0000009954 00000 n The deaths of tens of millions of Jews, Slavs, etc., at the hands of the Nazis, the deaths of tens of millions of blacks in slavery days, the deaths of up to 30 million or more Indians in the 1500s, the terribly short life spans of Mexican Indian farm workers in the US, and of Native Americans generally today, the high death rates in the early industrial centers among factory workers, and so on, all clearly attest to the fact that the wealthy and exploitative literally consume the lives of those that they exploit. And whoever!). xref Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. With teepees, Im not sure I get it. 0 I just posted a new video talking about cultural appropriation and art! 9'b_X~~@0CKYO~8yOK9I$^I>t In the course of the transformation from human to wendigo, the person exhibits increasing selfishness, violence, hunger, and greedparticularly for human flesh. But I do notice that Eyre stopped short of saying colonialization is the origin for the Wendigo legend. In contrast to modern horror stories that appropriate the wendigo as a plot device, Forbes implies that what actually ought to be terrifying to us is that we live in societies enveloped in violence and exploitation that we struggle to identify as such. In Algonquian traditions, the wendigo monster emerges not randomly or in violent response to colonialism as it often does in popular media but through a specific set of circumstances that are unique to different tribal groupings. Here's some links:Website - https://thesierramistify.wixsite.com/thesierramistifyEtsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/thesierramistify?ref=simple-shop-header-name\u0026listing_id=736195213Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesierramistify/Art Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesierramistify.art/- Music used in this video -Prime Beatz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkG3r3-ODOw however, the w*ndigo originates from spiritual beliefs held by Indigenous peoples. The windigo is a Native American spirit belonging to the Algonquian tribes of North America and Canada. During a panel at YES! I believe that the Wendigo is far older than that, far more primal. 1 0 obj wendigo cultural appropriation [26][27] During the winter of 1878, Swift Runner and his family were starving, and his eldest son died. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The Witherell House and the Cult of Weird, Movie Review: BIRDS OF PREY (And the Fantabulous Inclusion of Victor Zsasz and a Hyena). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Early folklore described them as tall and impossibly emaciated humanoids with sharp incisors and a heart of ice. media has really misconstrued the original lore and importance of the w*ndigo to Indigenous culture. Cookie Notice <<410561E535828C4ABA4EA5627C70A225>]/Prev 78716/XRefStm 1365>> Wendigos, teepees and cultural appropriation I read some stuff yesterday saying that teepees are cultural appropriation and there was a long post about how wendigos aren't cryptids and how stories about them are cultural appropriation. But as far as cultural appropriation and the Wendigo goes, dont you daredont you DAREtry to take our monsters away from us, PC wankers! He writes: Wtiko is a Cree termwhich refers to a cannibal or, more specifically, to an evil person or spirit who terrorizes other creatures by means of terrible evil acts, including cannibalism I have come to the conclusion that imperialism and exploitation are forms of cannibalism and, in fact, are precisely those forms of cannibalism which are most diabolical or evil It should be understood that wtikos do not eat other humans only in a symbolic sense. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. Turning on We should show proper respect to our Cryptids at all times, and Im rightfully righteously indignant at the thought of anyone doing otherwise with Mothman. 0000001546 00000 n The windigo is a per-sonal spirit that still belongs to the Native American cultures from which it has been taken, and the appropriation of this spirit harms Native American communities by poorly representing their beliefs for a marketable gain. 0000006529 00000 n I have named this observation of the Wendigothe Caveless Creature phenomenon. You dont have to be French to love the Phantom of the Opera. it's just something thats been bothering me so i thought it'd come to reddit to see what other people thought. Im glad, because I dont believe that it is. Western appropriation has long-lasting effects on the perceptions of Native American cultures by the average consumer and even scientific communities. It springs from the well of the collective human unconscious, the communal soul. That's just pulling a potential explanation out of my ass, though, I have no idea if its accurate or not. In most traditions, the wendigo is human in origin and becomes a monster through a process that results either from acts of starvation-induced cannibalism or from possession by a spirit. Theres something else. endobj Windigo is a malevolent manitou or spirit whose insatiable appetite for human flesh can never be satisfied. 0000010971 00000 n Although well-documented in Western literature, the windigo spirit of stories like . Just as the vampire and werewolf do not belong exclusively to people of European descent and the Mummy doesnt belong to Egyptians. For more information, please see our U%.CI$ FKe{CiV/\Lg1DD$A!=FHD6 EInw^9qkCh&1rvR'`{7X wEB7Az~q0n8 t)$xh1rQJ,p>O/$-J)'OTk|m9(k|6U g/-JU;WM}7d5)V.yX=Qu,TDI+CA_5U|nH$WK7G3-aYaqeV2jWQV6C6OY"W5?x;f_27j3Y)/G`j|e9NHCp+-r4g7D? c! The Wendigo is a 'terrifying cannibal ice monster that has its genesis in stories of people forced into cannibalism by the long winter' (Smith and Fiore, 2010: 68). As a creator, I believe it is my responsibility, the responsibility of any creator, if using characters that belong to a culture other than mine and exploring themes from that culture, to be accurate. Its incredibly validating to know that other people have heard about it and enjoy the story enough to make reference to the name and concept. 0000003976 00000 n Be supportive, this is a place for growth, not hostility. 2 0 obj She is Native American. For artists, writers, gamemasters, musicians, programmers, philosophers and scientists alike! Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. 7 (2020): Ghosts and Cultural Hauntings. There's nothing wrong with drawing the popular concept of a wendigo monster, or drawing any monster with antlers, and calling it a wendigo. a lot of Natives and people in general don't even like saying the word itself. MORTUI VELOCES SUNT! so im sort of clueless how reddit works and made an account for this, so bare with me. This is a story shared not merely for entertainment but to reinforce the communal values that allow the communities in which this practice occurs to live well with one another and within their environments. Vol. My basic rule is simple: be respectful. As a concept, wendigo can apply to situations other than some Native American-European relations. 0000008020 00000 n The windigo is a Native American spirit belonging to the Algonquian tribes of North America and Canada. stream By looking at the depictions of windigo in these specific Western stories and in Native American beliefs, it is possible to see how stripping spirits of their original contexts is harmful to Native communities. i enjoy his content, but the w*ndigo is part of a closed religion and is supposed to be a lesson about human greed and selfishness, not a cannibal monster story. If you were to look around the world about other religions, anything that is associated with death and disease is regarded upon. Okay, dont anybody get me wrong. 1. If so, what did you think about it? % This article's cross-media analysis covers television, film and game media; Teen Wolf (2011-17), Supernatural (2005-20), Bruce Wemple's The Retreat (2020) and SuperMassive Games' Until Dawn . There, he uses the cannibalistic wendigo as a metaphor for the behaviors and attitudes central to patterns of social domination visited upon his own people in the Americas and subjugated peoples everywhere. No one can try to stake a singular claim to it. 0000023412 00000 n Although well-documented in Western literature, the windigo spirit of stories like Pet Sematary by Stephen King and The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood are stripped of their original context and are mere stereotypes of the cultures they originate from. Welcome to Facing Today, a Facing History blog. Ojibwe scholar Dr. Brady Santi has developed this guide for teachers who would like to teach students about her communitys unique belief systems with an emphasis on the wendigo as it appears in popular films. I know what cultural appropriation is but Ive not been as involved in social justice as I used to be and I guess its showing. Western appropriation has long-lasting effects on the perceptions of Native American cultures by the average consumer and even scientific communities. This articlescross-media analysiscovers television, film and game media;Teen Wolf(201117),Supernatural(200520), Bruce WemplesThe Retreat(2020) and SuperMassive GamesUntil Dawn(2015). As a creator, I believe it is my responsibility, the responsibility of any creator, if using characters that belong to a culture other than mine and exploring themes from that culture, to be accurate. To Helheimr with it! and our By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. That taste of human flesh, which out of that rose the wendigo.. +9*]aty``mZm/[= ${2R{!g=b{B,L0R2"T]IDa. This analysis will trace the process of these media, made by non-Indigenous white creators, removing the Wendigos indigeneity and placing it within fictional settings as an antagonist. We do the same thing with a lot of mythological creatures. 0000004651 00000 n 0000012532 00000 n Thus I support Scott Cooper, the director of the forthcoming (hopefully by next spring) ANTLERS, in his efforts to seek out consultation from Indian advisors when making his movie, which features a Wendigo. Abstract. WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. Dollightful's Apology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW-KBzKWvrUTo clear up the addition that I made even more, I think that it would be pretty important for the information on this topic to be easily accessible to her viewers. 246 33 0000005554 00000 n New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. startxref they've been stripped of cultural context. %PDF-1.7 My Thoughts and Questions OllieOnyx 845 subscribers Subscribe 4.5K 119K views 2 years ago I just posted a new video talking. Cultural appropriation consists of borrowing something from another culture in mockery or thoughtless misuse. 0000002723 00000 n Although this article is specifically observing the Wendigo, I argue that it is one of many caveless creatures, and the treatment of them by creators of non-Indigenous horror genre should be analysed in the future. As I mentioned during our latest episode of the NYMG podcast, I've been playing Until Dawn, and the game has got me thinking about a few different things that I'd like to spend some time parsing through, like the game's representation of things like gender and race, how it is that the idea of choice seems to influence the way we think about these representations, and the manner in which . The latest addition to this lineup of wendigo tales is Scott Cooper and Guillermo del Toros horror film Antlers (2021) in which a Native American character provides some brief exposition before the story centered around a white community contending with the monster begins in earnest. Theyre revered spirits to the point where people wont speak their name so it must be frustrating when people are just like Oh yeah, I saw one of those, it was so spooky or have an aesthetic called wendigocore. For more information, please see our Magazine with fellow environmental thought leaders, LaDuke said: Theres this conflict between the cannibals and Mother Earth, and its going on everywhere. Posted by These bonnets are symbols of warrior achievements and are the equivalent of military medals. And were on the right side, thats what were working on but sometimes you get that cannibal tendency. s\&|5T!JN04hy'I0 1pv=~0-K$k}xSK"g:O*ox&zGa13(YXzy_{v-N^!c@[H (Think Noah from . <>/Metadata 266 0 R/ViewerPreferences 267 0 R>> Facing History and Ourselves combats racism and antisemitism by using history to teach tolerance in classrooms around the globe. Privacy Policy. One of those advisors I just mentioned, Chris Eyre, had this to say of the Wendigo: They [meaning Native peoples] truly, truly believe in it, because it represents greed and colonialism when we first came to the shores of what is now America, and pillaged all of their resources and forced them [into] cannibalism. You dont have to be of Afro-Caribbean descent to talk about, write about, or make movies about zombies. %PDF-1.4 % Rules: spellings (see Colombo 2) but is most commonly rendered as Windigo, Wendigo, or Witiko. and our Even in the face of ongoing cultural appropriation and erasure, wendigo stories are but one reflection of the survivance, wisdom, and brilliance of Native peoples. This article analyses prominent examples of the Wendigo myth in modern North American horror media and the implications of misappropriation by non-Indigenous creators for non-Indigenous audiences. Stolen Spirits: The Appropriation of the Windigo Spirit in Horror Literature. Archived post. 0000000016 00000 n 0000005304 00000 n Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Beyond Forbes, other Native American thinkers have also used wendigo stories to present critical perspectives on various social problems and call for their resolution. These new narratives that white people make fail to acknowledge that the wendigo, and the Indi. When you comment on, Asian American and Pacific Islander History, Race and Membership in American History: Eugenics.