In this chilling episode, we delve into the haunting legend of the Wendigo. Rooted in Indigenous folklore, this cannibalistic spirit embodies greed, hunger, and the perils of losing one’s humanity. We explore the origins of the Wendigo myth, its cultural significance, and its cautionary themes. Then, we shift our focus to pop culture, examining how the Wendigo has been reimagined in movies, TV shows, and literature—from terrifying monsters to psychological metaphors. Join us as we uncover the complex evolution of this legendary creature and what it reveals about our collective fears.

Trigger Warnings: This episode contains topics of violence and cannibalism.

Learn More:

• DeSanti, B. (2018). Classroom cannibal: A guide on how to teach Ojibwe spirituality using the windigo and film. Journal of Religion & Film, 22(1), Article 36. https://doi.org/10.32873/uno.dc.jrf.22.01.36

• McCauley, E. (2016, November 23). The mythology and misrepresentation of the windigo. Backstory. https://backstoryradio.org/blog/the-mythology-and-misrepresentation-of-the-windigo/

• Ostberg, R. (2024). Wendigo. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved August 29, 2024 from https://www.britannica.com/topic/wendigo

• Smith, K. (2021, November 30). More than monsters: The deeper significance of wendigo stories. Facing History and Ourselves. https://www.facinghistory.org/ideas-week/more-monsters-deeper-significance-wendigo-stories

• Storied. (2019, August 28). Windigo: The flesh-eating monster of Native American legend [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/guiuXIMZ2vE?si=4fwFhPANNNXY95vr

• Turner, D. H. (1977). Windigo Mythology and the Analysis of Cree Social Structure. Anthropologica, 19(1), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.2307/25604977

• Wendigo. Charmed Wiki. https://charmed.fandom.com/wiki/Wendigo

Literature Referenced:

• The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1851)

• Pet Sematary by Stephen King (1983)

• “Romance and Real Estate” (essay) by Walter Benn Michaels (1987)

• The Round House by Louise Erdrich (2012)

• Sacred Legend of the Sandy Lake Cree by James Stevens and Carl Ray (1971)

• Strange Things: The Malevolent North in Canadian Literature by Margaret Atwood (1995)

• Tracks by Louise Erdrich (2004)

• The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood (1910)

• The Wendigo Border by Catherine Montrose (1995)

• Windigo (poem) by Louise Erdrich (1984)