0000010400 00000 n Native Americans, Our headquarters are located at: 89 South Street, Suite 401, Boston, MA 02111. You dont have to be of Afro-Caribbean descent to talk about, write about, or make movies about zombies. For more information, please see our 0000005554 00000 n Cultural appropriation consists of borrowing something from another culture in mockery or thoughtless misuse. Appropriating the Wendigo As it so happens, I am currently working on a project involving a Wendigo, so this is personal to me. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. wendigo cultural appropriation [26][27] During the winter of 1878, Swift Runner and his family were starving, and his eldest son died. 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). He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. Copyright 2022 Facing History & Ourselves. 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. 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). %PDF-1.4 % 0000012791 00000 n Film, 0000000974 00000 n 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. And were on the right side, thats what were working on but sometimes you get that cannibal tendency. 0000012532 00000 n The Wendigo may be a figure from American Indian mythology, but it belongs to all of humankind. 0000010971 00000 n By Christian Chiakulas, Contributor Writer, musician, activist, single father from Chicago. 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. 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. arent cryptids thing. trailer We do the same thing with a lot of mythological creatures. 0000009484 00000 n l Ca#!LzH{t+8W5 !2*_{)rgx-`]CTXSH($g She is Native American. Okay, dont anybody get me wrong. 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. So, thanks, Dave! One recurring theme across these storytelling mediums is the use of the wendigoalso spelled wtikoa monstrous figure from Algonquian mythology who exhibits an insatiable greed along with a desire for human flesh. But as far as cultural appropriation and the Wendigo goes, dont you daredont you DAREtry to take our monsters away from us, PC wankers! Im just struggling to understand the significance of it. 0000007047 00000 n endobj i don't know if anyone has talked about this, but i have a special interest in Native American culture, history, etc. 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. Scan this QR code to download the app now. She's part of a group of young adults created in a lab (she's the only one who wasn't) who have these special abilities. % 0000009596 00000 n 0000001705 00000 n Please report rule violations. I really just want to learn about how to appreciate aspects of cultures that I am not included in respectfully. Cultural appropriation is the co-optation of elements, customs, or practices of one culture by another culture without acknowledgment or consent. I have always felt a distinct emotional connection to it, in fact. 0000011489 00000 n 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. The question of how to challenge the wtiko psychosis as described by Forbes and Wendigo Economics as described by LaDuke is a difficult one, but the mythic force of the concept of the wendigo helps to underscore the urgency of these questions. No one can try to stake a singular claim to it. hb```b``Ub`e``s`g@ ~+ a1fm{s/K5N9MHd@*2Ey]#B}>x,&ucrnhm:HkN=_B }Wzp.S#WCXi;dRa ,.0H*. The creation of new worlds and new universes has long been a key element of speculative fiction, from the fantasy works of Tolkien and Le Guin, to the science-fiction universes of Delany and Asimov, to the tabletop realm of Gygax and Barker, and beyond. The Wendigo happens to be part of my own (Anishiinaabe) cultural heritage. 2. <> It was already here. And you know what? Not only is it not offensive, I LOVE seeing references to wendigos in popular culture! 1 0 obj 0000007477 00000 n i don't think there should be any 'canceling' of Wendigoon or whatever, but definitely something should be said. Early folklore described them as tall and impossibly emaciated humanoids with sharp incisors and a heart of ice. 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. And whoever!). However, it never provents for people of that tribe to share this and that story. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Participate in good faith. Learn how your comment data is processed. Europeans may well have behaved like Wendigos when they invaded the Americasthey didbut they didnt bring the Wendigo with them. When she was brought to the lab she already had the curse of the Wendigo but after she was "updated" she had visible antlers and could change her shape. But I do notice that Eyre stopped short of saying colonialization is the origin for the Wendigo legend. And I accept that the Wendigo can symbolize for them that exploitation. 17spaz 2 yr. ago So yeah, if anyone could offer any insight/information, thatd be appreciated. Archived post. 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. 0000003862 00000 n 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. Topics: a lot of Natives and people in general don't even like saying the word itself. 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. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.32 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 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. Answer (1 of 8): Yes, unless actively researched with proper resources and talked to with First Nation folks as proof-readers. Rules: stream 0000015547 00000 n If you were to look around the world about other religions, anything that is associated with death and disease is regarded upon. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Scan this QR code to download the app now. 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. 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. 0000004071 00000 n Only those entitled to them should wear them. HeyYaIQ 21 days ago. 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. 0000001365 00000 n This subreddit is about sharing your worlds, discovering the creations of others, and discussing the many aspects of creating new universes. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better 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. 0000020040 00000 n 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. endobj 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. 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. Just as the vampire and werewolf do not belong exclusively to people of European descent and the Mummy doesnt belong to Egyptians. 0000009954 00000 n I'm just struggling to understand the significance of it. During a panel at YES! However, PCism taken to its extreme would say that neither Cooper, nor I, should be telling stories about Wendigos at all, since were not of aboriginal descent. Privacy Policy. Dollightful's Wendigo Doll - Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation? 7 (2020): Ghosts and Cultural Hauntings. 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. In the course of the transformation from human to wendigo, the person exhibits increasing selfishness, violence, hunger, and greed particularly for human flesh. Tell us about it in the comments. And besides that, it never hurts to include your sources. (A friend sent this screenshot to me, along with the info, because he knows how much PC-ism pisses me off. ])yB\}OIZyY8 aA6Vo !C_D#!MYik.1>%'5ryZ*>fb=n#_dr;j5 { MORTUI VELOCES SUNT! 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). This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When you comment on, Asian American and Pacific Islander History, Race and Membership in American History: Eugenics. One example is Ojibwe activist Winona LaDuke who has called for a decisive shift away from what she has termed Wendigo Economics for the sake of the health of the natural world. 0000008020 00000 n With teepees, Im not sure I get it. I just posted a new video talking about cultural appropriation and art! Cookie Notice This articlescross-media analysiscovers television, film and game media;Teen Wolf(201117),Supernatural(200520), Bruce WemplesThe Retreat(2020) and SuperMassive GamesUntil Dawn(2015). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Indigenous, I dont know who originally posted it, or where. 0000003465 00000 n The concept of cultural appropriation began well enough, but just like everything else woke culture political correctness, it's gone way too far. 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. 2 0 obj symL,JyvCq;[H~! Facing History & Ourselves uses lessons of history to challenge media has really misconstrued the original lore and importance of the w*ndigo to Indigenous culture. 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. From Stephen Kings Pet Sematary to the television series Hanibal, the flesh-eating image of the wendigo is often presented apart from its original cultural contexts where it carries deep moral significance. I believe that the Wendigo is far older than that, far more primal. My basic rule is simple: be respectful. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. His line of questioning effectively asks what if the monstrosity we face is actually not an otherworldly presence but our all too human selves?. My Thoughts and Questions OllieOnyx 845 subscribers Subscribe 4.5K 119K views 2 years ago I just posted a new video talking. appropriation that has troubled the exchange between Indigenous . This space is not for debate. 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 . Cookie Notice As a concept, wendigo can apply to situations other than some Native American-European relations. 246 33 Though these misrepresentations of the wendigo beg for critical interrogation, the wendigo stories of Algonquian peoples offer a window into the endurance of cultural resources used to transmit significant moral values, and underscore the power of Native people using these stories to engage in social critique. That, I would affirm, is truly and literally cannibalism, and it is cannibalism accompanied by no spiritually meaningful ceremony or ritual., More than a commentary on the life of wendigo stories amongst his own people, Forbes deploys the metaphor of the wendigo to advance nothing less than a critique of civilization at large and describes the violence that he argues lies at its foundation as one driven by a kind of wendigo psychosis. 0000012030 00000 n 0000005961 00000 n 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. %PDF-1.7 Scan this QR code to download the app now. It can serve as a metaphor explaining any pattern of domination by which groups subjugate and dominate or violently destroy and displace. endobj 0000000016 00000 n startxref Finally, it's just not that hard to do two minutes of. Hunchman, K. N. (2020). The Windigo also has the power to turn humans into cannibals who suffer the same . And they are worth considering including in ones classroom teaching. Privacy Policy. For resources: http://reddit.com/r/SRSDiscussion/wiki/required. it's just something thats been bothering me so i thought it'd come to reddit to see what other people thought. As it so happens, I am currently working on a project involving a Wendigo, so this is personal to me. Stolen Spirits: The Appropriation of the Windigo Spirit in Horror Literature. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Thats just asking for trouble.) 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. 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. Posts and comments should be substantive, and assertions backed in fact or personal lived experience. Be supportive, this is a place for growth, not hostility. The windigo is a Native American spirit belonging to the Algonquian tribes of North America and Canada. o&g( 0000001546 00000 n By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. 0000009056 00000 n 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. These new narratives that white people make fail to acknowledge that the wendigo, and the Indi. This is a place to learn more bout Social Justice <> 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. Welcome to Facing Today, a Facing History blog. In my blind quest to represent everyone, all I did was reinforce the problem. Driving down a dark quiet highway in Southern Manitoba, a man sees someone bent over on the side of the road. 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. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. however, the w*ndigo originates from spiritual beliefs held by Indigenous peoples. After thinking about it some more, I understand that its a kind of It was okay for these kids to pretend to be Indians but not for these kids to actually be Indians thing but I saw someone claim that it was contributing to colonisation and the death of death of their culture and that felt a bit strong. 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. In the course of the transformation from human to wendigo, the person exhibits increasing selfishness, violence, hunger, and greedparticularly for human flesh. I have named this observation of the Wendigothe Caveless Creature phenomenon. A classic example is wearing a Plains Indian war bonnet (see the 80s band The Village People). Political correctness started out as one thing, a good thing. It has no place in the world of Folklore and monsters. Have you encountered wendigo stories in films, television shows, or books? 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 . MORTUI VELOCES SUNT! J.K. Rowling's Cultural Appropriation Should Be A Lesson To White Writers Native Americans shouldn't be a "niche," and neither should women, LGBT people, or people of color. It's taboo to the Anishaabe people, but the common depiction of it in media is no where near the original frozen cannibal spirit that the legends are based off of. That's just pulling a potential explanation out of my ass, though, I have no idea if its accurate or not. T[,%q5 Now that I have a major problem with. 9'b_X~~@0CKYO~8yOK9I$^I>t When the soldiers reach Ives' cave, Boyd and Reich investigate. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 :)Looking to buy some stickers or look at some pictures of my art or my other things? 4. Abstract. and our and our x\o7a_h ss+yHL$eW}gfw)$/D !;n*+v}}uSU|.&-y Turning on 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. I analyze the way the windigo are represented in Western literature and argue that Native American spirits should belong to the cultures they originate from. 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. 3. 0000013308 00000 n Only assholes think thats offensive. 0000006529 00000 n You dont have to be French to love the Phantom of the Opera. You must be here to either learn more about social justice or answer questions from a social justice viewpoint. Still though, Im not sure I fully get the Native American spirits(?) Magazine with fellow environmental thought leaders, LaDuke said: Theres this conflict between the cannibals and Mother Earth, and its going on everywhere. Although well-documented in Western literature, the windigo spirit of stories like . That is why we know about the wendigo today, it is an oral tradition like all the . Windigo is a malevolent manitou or spirit whose insatiable appetite for human flesh can never be satisfied. +9*]aty``mZm/[= ${2R{!g=b{B,L0R2"T]IDa. Im glad, because I dont believe that it is.
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