/Metadata 266 0 R/ViewerPreferences 267 0 R>> 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. 0000007477 00000 n x\o7a_h ss+yHL$eW}gfw)$/D !;n*+v}}uSU|.&-y Driving down a dark quiet highway in Southern Manitoba, a man sees someone bent over on the side of the road. Kaitlin Smith on November 30, 2021. Windigo is a malevolent manitou or spirit whose insatiable appetite for human flesh can never be satisfied. T[,%q5 0000020040 00000 n 0000015547 00000 n This subreddit is about sharing your worlds, discovering the creations of others, and discussing the many aspects of creating new universes. Mythologynote my use of the capital M to convey that it is far more than just some made-up stories; it is stories containing deeper spiritual truthsbelongs to all of humanity. Rules: His line of questioning effectively asks what if the monstrosity we face is actually not an otherworldly presence but our all too human selves?. 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. And whoever!). HeyYaIQ 21 days ago. That's just pulling a potential explanation out of my ass, though, I have no idea if its accurate or not. 0000023412 00000 n 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. This articlescross-media analysiscovers television, film and game media;Teen Wolf(201117),Supernatural(200520), Bruce WemplesThe Retreat(2020) and SuperMassive GamesUntil Dawn(2015). 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. 0000005961 00000 n Welcome to Facing Today, a Facing History blog. Now that I have a major problem with. 0000003465 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. endobj 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). 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. 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. 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. <<410561E535828C4ABA4EA5627C70A225>]/Prev 78716/XRefStm 1365>> 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 . 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. 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. It has become something else altogether. My basic rule is simple: be respectful. 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 And besides that, it never hurts to include your sources. 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. 0000012030 00000 n But as far as cultural appropriation and the Wendigo goes, dont you daredont you DAREtry to take our monsters away from us, PC wankers! Please report rule violations. 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 . Since the concept of a wendigo stems from First Nations folklore, maybe someone making a cute little doll of this evil spirit figure was seen as inappropriate or making fun of their culture? 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. 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. The windigo is a Native American spirit belonging to the Algonquian tribes of North America and Canada. 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). I really just want to learn about how to appreciate aspects of cultures that I am not included in respectfully. 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. Political correctness started out as one thing, a good thing. With teepees, Im not sure I get it. MORTUI VELOCES SUNT! %PDF-1.7 it's just something thats been bothering me so i thought it'd come to reddit to see what other people thought. 0000001705 00000 n 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. 0000007047 00000 n <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.32 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> That taste of human flesh, which out of that rose the wendigo.. 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). This construction is problematic in the horror genre as it presents an Indigenous antagonist that poses a threat to white culture for its otherness and indigeneity while at the same time, misappropriating, discarding and demonising the Indigenous culture the myth comes from, at whim. Although well-documented in Western literature, the windigo spirit of stories like . 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. Sponsored by Ball State University Libraries. It has no place in the world of Folklore and monsters. 0000012532 00000 n so im sort of clueless how reddit works and made an account for this, so bare with me. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Early folklore described them as tall and impossibly emaciated humanoids with sharp incisors and a heart of ice. appropriation that has troubled the exchange between Indigenous . It was already here. For artists, writers, gamemasters, musicians, programmers, philosophers and scientists alike! %%EOF There's nothing wrong with drawing the popular concept of a wendigo monster, or drawing any monster with antlers, and calling it a wendigo. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 0000005554 00000 n 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Western appropriation has long-lasting effects on the perceptions of Native American cultures by the average consumer and even scientific communities. 0000008549 00000 n Only those entitled to them should wear them. Film, startxref Cookie Notice Privacy Policy. Topics: He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. The Witherell House and the Cult of Weird, Movie Review: BIRDS OF PREY (And the Fantabulous Inclusion of Victor Zsasz and a Hyena). 0000004651 00000 n 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. 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. If so, what did you think about it? 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! By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 0000009954 00000 n 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. I have always felt a distinct emotional connection to it, in fact. (Anything that isnt outright vandalism isnt likely to harm the statue at all, but I wouldnt dare do anything disrespectful around it. 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. These new narratives that white people make fail to acknowledge that the wendigo, and the Indi. Be supportive, this is a place for growth, not hostility. Usually, the appropriating culture is in a relation of domination to the appropriated culture. teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. The Wendigo may be a figure from American Indian mythology, but it belongs to all of humankind. 3. media has really misconstrued the original lore and importance of the w*ndigo to Indigenous culture. Native Americans, Our headquarters are located at: 89 South Street, Suite 401, Boston, MA 02111. 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. Those things, the predation on the Indians by Europeans, most certainly happened. 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. i don't know if anyone has talked about this, but i have a special interest in Native American culture, history, etc. 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. Participate in good faith. The concept of cultural appropriation began well enough, but just like everything else woke culture political correctness, it's gone way too far. a lot of Natives and people in general don't even like saying the word itself. Marvel Comics pay tribute to classic Monsters. Learn how your comment data is processed. How stupid to think otherwise. 0000013308 00000 n Tell us about it in the comments. Cookie Notice When you comment on, Asian American and Pacific Islander History, Race and Membership in American History: Eugenics. 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. however, the w*ndigo originates from spiritual beliefs held by Indigenous peoples. 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. P\^$'$@YWSB;Td54BD?YH"'kh::a;Vqz&4|:>)xP2n |94NrOqE'6 Not only is it not offensive, I LOVE seeing references to wendigos in popular culture! %PDF-1.4 % Only assholes think thats offensive. 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. And you know what? MORTUI VELOCES SUNT! Turning on The Windigo also has the power to turn humans into cannibals who suffer the same . 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. 9'b_X~~@0CKYO~8yOK9I$^I>t ])yB\}OIZyY8 aA6Vo !C_D#!MYik.1>%'5ryZ*>fb=n#_dr;j5 { 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. 0 0000009056 00000 n 4 0 obj Facing History and Ourselves combats racism and antisemitism by using history to teach tolerance in classrooms around the globe. symL,JyvCq;[H~! You must be here to either learn more about social justice or answer questions from a social justice viewpoint. However, it never provents for people of that tribe to share this and that story. 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. If you were to look around the world about other religions, anything that is associated with death and disease is regarded upon. 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. 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. Beyond Forbes, other Native American thinkers have also used wendigo stories to present critical perspectives on various social problems and call for their resolution. Im glad, because I dont believe that it is. 0000001546 00000 n A classic example is wearing a Plains Indian war bonnet (see the 80s band The Village People). Indigenous, 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 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. It may be used to justify calling. I have named this observation of the Wendigothe Caveless Creature phenomenon. During a panel at YES! 7 (2020): Ghosts and Cultural Hauntings. The Wendigo happens to be part of my own (Anishiinaabe) cultural heritage. 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. 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. <> When the soldiers reach Ives' cave, Boyd and Reich investigate. 4. As a concept, wendigo can apply to situations other than some Native American-European relations. +9*]aty``mZm/[= ${2R{!g=b{B,L0R2"T]IDa. Although this article is specifically observing the Wendigo, I argue that it is one of many caveless creatures, and the treatment of them by creators of non-Indigenous horror genre should be analysed in the future. Cultural appropriation is the co-optation of elements, customs, or practices of one culture by another culture without acknowledgment or consent. Cultural appropriation consists of borrowing something from another culture in mockery or thoughtless misuse. i don't think there should be any 'canceling' of Wendigoon or whatever, but definitely something should be said. Privacy Policy. and our He writes: Wtiko is a Cree termwhich refers to a cannibal or, more specifically, to an evil person or spirit who terrorizes other creatures by means of terrible evil acts, including cannibalism I have come to the conclusion that imperialism and exploitation are forms of cannibalism and, in fact, are precisely those forms of cannibalism which are most diabolical or evil It should be understood that wtikos do not eat other humans only in a symbolic sense. 0000000974 00000 n But I do notice that Eyre stopped short of saying colonialization is the origin for the Wendigo legend. Check it out here:https://youtu.be/fHE4fkvUpWMI really just made this video to express how I am currently feeling about the wendigo doll situation and the questions I have about it. You dont have to be of Afro-Caribbean descent to talk about, write about, or make movies about zombies. s\&|5T!JN04hy'I0 1pv=~0-K$k}xSK"g:O*ox&zGa13(YXzy_{v-N^!c@[H I believe that the Wendigo is far older than that, far more primal. 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. Archived post. 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. i love the videos uploaded to youtube and try to keep up with posts, so this is by no means a bash at Wendigoon. 1 0 obj No one can try to stake a singular claim to it. defence-cultural-appropriation Cultural appropriation is defined by Britannica.com as "When members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way." Cultural appropriation is a growing topic in this country that when it occurs, or is discussed, often creates controversy. Wendy Treece Bridges Age, Articles W
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