Talk:Wendigo/Archive 1

Archive 1

Source Question

I am interested in the suggested origins of the name wendigo (ween dagoh, etc.) recently added to this article. Can the poster provide references for who proposed these origins?

Cannibals

First off, this is my very first Discussion entry in Wikipedia, so please forgive me if it's not true to form. I think stating that the dead returning from the Pet Sematary (or more accurately the Indian burial place beyond it) came back as cannibals is not entirely true. They sure did turn malevolent but even in the case of Gage Creed there is no hint in the book that he was hungry for human flesh. The other case we know of is the one of Timmy Baterman who didn't even actually harm anyone (if I remember correctly). I have not made any changes to the article since I'd like to wait for other users' opinions (and since I don't yet feel comfortable changing articles on my own account ;-)). Hope that someone can back me up on this statement.

SveTho

I saw the movie, and it did not infer any cannibilistic intent to those who were 'brought back'. Yes, they were malevolent and homicidal, but they wished to harm others, not devour them. I agree that part of the article should be changed Pendragon39 05:10, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

---

Isn't this Ogden Nash poem a copyright violation? It was published in 1936 in the collection Custard and Company. Ed Cherlin 4:14, 9 Aug 2005 (UTC)

I don't think so - because it's actually just an excerpt of a longer poem. DS 17:37, 6 October 2005 (UTC)

I think that cannibals are real. People who eat other people for any reason should not be judged b/c of it.

Question

I noticed in the episode of "Supernatural" it was pronounced (when-DEE-go). I've always said it (WHEN-di-go). Which way is proper?

-Luke

Either. The Supernatural website links here, oddly.

-"Supernatural" has an incorrect pronounciation. The latter mentioned above, pronounced 'when-di-go', is the correct and generally accepted version.

Obviously, this doesn't apply to the English pronunciation of the name, but the Ojibwe name is Wiindigoo, pronounced /wiːndiɡoː/~/wiːndiɡuː/ (or approximately "WEEN-dih-GOE" or "WEEN-dih-GOO"). The various forms of the name come from Ojibwe or related Algonquian languages, but I don't know the specific forms of the name in other languages. I don't know the proper pronunciation in English, actually... --Whimemsz 01:10, 16 January 2006 (UTC)

This article fails to discuss the Wendigo in Psychiatry

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry has articles which discuss the Culture Bound Syndrome, Wendigo Psychosis. There have been court cases where "insanity" or the belief that one was the Wendigo has been used as a defense. Current research has revealed stories, from living Native Americans, of people who were effected by the dissociative break and began to believe they were either becoming the Wendigo or were being chased by a Wendigo. One account reports an execution of a tribal member who exhibited symptoms of psychosis.

Mental events have happened on scientific expeditions that copied the conditions, which caused the episodes of Wendigo Psychosis. The most important of these was the Belgian Polar Expedition of 1898. Eighteen normal sailors and scientists began to go insane when the Belgica became frozen in polar ice, ("Through the First Antarctic Night," Cook)

Those crewmembers did not have a cultural belief in the bogeyman, Windigo. Instead they exhibited extreme depression, one man became a deaf mute, one hid in small remote spaces to sleep fearing the others were plotting to kill him, psychotic paranoia, another died from fear, heart attack.

It all stopped when the ship was hacked from the pack ice and began the trip home.

L K Tucker 18:33, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

http://visionandpsychosis.net/Culture_Bound_Syndromes.htm

http://visionandpsychosis.net/Chaco_Canyon.htm

http://visionandpsychosis.net/Astronauts_Insanity.htm

No Sources

I dont beleive that this article should be included as it fails to provide viable sources. None of the statements made refer to the actual condition of "Windigo Psychosis".

I've removed the section from the article. The entire section consisted of two sentences that were not informative at all. Please include more info and provide a source before replacing. CPitt76 17:21, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Merge

The section on Wendigo in Ithaqua is source-free and has a strong original research feel, not to mention let's-pretend-it's-real approach to discussing an imaginary subject. Just about all of it could be cut, with no need to merge--I might put it all on the Wendigo talk page and people can salvage anything they feel like. Nareek 05:45, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

Maine

I read in the Lewiston Sun Journal (which put this site as a reference for possible animals) that the Turner Beast is thought to be a wendigo, or at least reported to be by people who've seen it. (though I think that it was something like a hyena-dog, either from the extinct species or a cross-breed)

Trivia

Why is this article still in the "Articles with large trivia sections" category when it doesn't even have a trivia section? 4.239.66.217 03:53, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

Picture?

Surely someone has depicted it one time or anyother in a non-copyrighted form? --Lenoxus 19:01, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

State of the article

I've given my thoughts in the WikiProject Indigenous peoples of North America/Anishinaabe box at the top of the article (or you can read them by following this link: /Comments). --Miskwito 06:51, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

It only transforms during the three stages of the full moon. Then it searchs and kills it's victems by cutting out their hearts and eating them.

Stephen King's Pet Sematary

I've read the novel three times now. There are several mentions to the wendigo on it, some of them could fit in the article somehow. Please, somebody who has read it as well, could write a line or two?

I'm not an english native speaker, sorry —The preceding unsigned comment was added by I1100a (talk • contribs) 15:37, 14 May 2007 (UTC).

I gave it a sort of brief parenthetical note for now. I haven't read the book, though, so I myself can't really say more than that. --Miskwito 18:56, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

Johnathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy

There are parts in the trilogy where it tells Bartimaeus is a Wendigo-Bartimaeus is a shapeshifter

Jack Fiddler, Windigo Psychosis, and historically-documented windigos

I just started an article on Jack Fiddler, an ogema who was famous for his ability to defeat the windigo and who was arrested at the end of his life for killing a woman in his band that had become possessed by it. I think it would be appropriate to link somewhere in this article, but I don't know where the right place would be. I think it would be POV to put it in the Windigo Psychosis section since that would be saying that the several windigos he killed were in fact mentally-ill people. The main academic source, (Killing the Shamen by Thomas Fiddler and James Stephens) would not be comfortable framing it this way and neither would I. References to people who were killed after going windigo are not all that rare in the historical record. Unfortunately, I don't have the book next to me anymore, but there should probably be a less-POV way we could present historic incidents. Leo1410 18:29, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

A better solution, perhaps, would be to frame the idea that all cases of Windigo Psychosis were culture-specific psychological disorders as the view of psychologists and anthropologists. In other words, to make that section written more neutrally concerning the reality of Windigo spirits actually possessing people; if that were done correctly, I think mention of Fiddler could be added. I'll try to come up with something today --Miskwito 18:46, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Swift Runner

I corrected the Swift Runner portion of the article. Now, it reads "During the winter of 1878, Swift Runner and his family were starving, and his eldest son died. Within just 25 miles of emergency food supplies at a Hudson Bay Company post, Swift Runner butchered and ate his wife and five remaining children.[19] Given that he resorted to cannibalism so near to food supplies, and that he killed and consumed the remains of all those present, it was revealed that Swift Runner's was not a case of pure cannibalism as a last resort to avoid starvation, but rather a man suffering from Windigo Psychosis..." However, it seems to me that the detail of the eldest son died is important because this type of psycosis comes "often as a result of prior famine cannibalism." So, either it needs to be explained that Swift Runner consumed his first dead son and then continued to kill or it should not be worth the mention in the story as it would be irrelevant. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.64.199.210 (talk) 07:45, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

Archive 1

Weird Universe

Just a note that this page was referenced/linked at the Weird Universe daily column on 7/21/08. Beeblbrox (talk) 06:02, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

Grendel

Deconstructhis: I agree that the justification used for adding the link was an incorrect one. However I would maintain that "Grendel was in fact a Windigo". I suspect that debating the historical veracity of Grendel's existence itself would lead us in the direction of "original research". Instead I will simply point out that the Windigo taboo generally applies to any cannibal and is based on the actually experience of cannibalism, as well as the threat posed by anyone who has been forced out of the band and is failing to survive on their own. Grendel behaves exactly like a Windigo, and qualifies under the definition of a Windigo, if perhaps a Windigo outside of the standard Algonquian language group terminology and cosmology. Hrimpurstala (talk) 05:51, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

Sorry Hrimpurstala, but I'm afraid we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Wendigos are very specifically an entity in North American Algonquian language speaking traditional belief systems. Grendel is quite specifically a single figure in a European legend. Although they may share the practice of cannibalism and alienation from their respective communities, both are conditions which are far from uncommon in many parts of the world throughout history. Linking the two of them together, as you are doing, requires an original thesis on your part, which of course is a violation of WP:OR. Unless you can provide a specific reference from a reputable source to justify the connection you're making, I don't think the precence of the link is justifiable in the context of the Wendigo article. To tell you the truth, in my opinion, because of the tenuousness of the connection, I'd suggest that the parallels are somewhat non-notable regardless. cheers Deconstructhis (talk) 16:00, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

i think so tooo —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.158.76.151 (talk) 22:29, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

He isn't a Wendigo, he is an Orcne (obviously the same as a Draugr), which is very similar but Germanic instead of Native American. King Geiseric (talk) 18:00, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

In his book "People of the Deer", Farley Mowat tells of the Inuit around Hudson bay having stories about the Wendigo. I dont believe the Inuit were in the Algonquin language "famliy". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.207.124.1 (talk) 13:44, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

New addition to "Windigo psychosis" section

Although I only copy edited it, rather than removing it, I remain somewhat dubious of the appropriateness of the most recent addition to this section. Now that I've actually read the initial article that's being referred to, I'm even more convinced that this may simply be a case of coincidence and perhaps a little bit of self promotion on the part of the "wendigo expert". We have no evidence whatsoever that Li actually read this article, let alone was 'influenced' by it. I'll let it stand for now, but unless there's some clear evidence in the near future that ties the article and the event together more directly, I'm planning on removing it. I'd understand completely if another editor wasn't quite this generous. cheers Deconstructhis (talk) 13:04, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

I've removed it (and only half a year later!). The only source actually cited is the Edmonton Sun article (plus a follow-up), whose text is just duplicated for the third source. The Edmonton Sun being a tabloid paper. I haven't found mention of the windigo connection in any other (more reputable) sources, nor any mention of Li's reading a previous Sun article (which seems to just be sensationalist self-promotion by the Sun). Indeed, more recent sources (e.g., [1] and [2]), discussing Li's plea and sentencing, reveal that he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and believed that God told him to attack McLean, who ("God" claimed) was planning to kill Li. No mention of any windigo psychosis or a belief on Li's part that he was somehow possessed by a windigo. --Miskwito (talk) 21:37, 4 April 2009 (UTC)

twin peaks

so, just wondering, has info about Bob from TP been previously removed from this article? because it seems like there are lots of dead end, half-references to the Bob character, throughout this article, but I don't see anything concrete, like a mention in the pop culture section or something. any Kyle Maclachan fans care to comment? 72.0.180.2 (talk) 10:56, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

TV appearances separation

In the article is a sentence which mentions several TV-episodes, in which the Wendigo appears. And in the following list there are some more TV-series and detailed information about them. I can't see the reason for the different treatment. Wouldn't it be better to have either everything written out or nothing?Kommitanz (talk) 20:01, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

I don't think that 25 miles in an Albertan winter of the 1800s is "so close" to food relief at HBC. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ca.browne (talk • contribs) 23:43, 26 October 2009 (UTC)

The concept of the wendigo was central to an episode of Bordertown season 2. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.208.251.232 (talk) 22:56, 9 June 2020 (UTC)

TV show Are You Afraid of the Dark should be included https://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Are_You_Afraid_of_the_Dark Episode 5.8 https://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/List_of_Are_You_Afraid_of_the_Dark%3F_episodes#Season_5_.281995.E2.80.9396.29 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.59.51.174 (talk) 19:47, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

The 2013 TV Series Sleepy Hollow has a Wendigo in it and somehow it keeps being taken off. Why is that? The Wendigo is this show appeared as the character Joe Corbin. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7D:42C8:3900:35FE:4B4C:C7A0:C89A (talk) 08:37, 10 January 2018 (UTC)

I suggest that you ask whoever has removed it. My guess would be because there is no source for the claim. Meters (talk) 16:56, 10 January 2018 (UTC)

Here is a link to support my suggestion. It's from the Sleepy Hollow Wiki page http://sleepyhollow.wikia.com/wiki/Wendigo — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7D:42C8:3900:A81E:A119:B39D:A60F (talk) 02:31, 15 January 2018 (UTC)

Donner Party Error

The article refers to the Donner party, saying they became lost in Colorado in 1846. That is incorrect, the Donner party went missing in the Sierra Nevadas in California in 1846, after traveling through Nevada and straying from the normal trail right before the Donner pass. Both the pass and Donner lake in the Sierra Nevadas have been named for the Donner party. 168.105.121.91 (talk) 19:00, 27 September 2015 (UTC)

Fear itself

I wanted to add that Fear Itself (TV show) has a very good Wendigo episode (episode 8) which provides what seems to be a pretty good representation of a Wendigo (and uses the term "Wendigo") so I thought I'd add it to the series listed which lists shows which have featured them, but I don't know how to link properly on wikipedia... :/ the episode is #8 "Skin and Bones" if anyone cares to link it properly.. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.56.151.34 (talk) 08:49, 22 February 2012 (UTC)

Citations are done incorrectly

I'm not an expert on doing citations properly, but the huge pile of almost-identical citations near the bottom without much notion of what it's actually citing worry me. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.60.115.152 (talk) 07:30, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

Lovecraft

I distinctly recall the Wendigo being a pivotal threat in one particular story of the Lovecraft Mythos, but I cannot find my copy, and so can provide neither title nor author.

On an unrelated note, descriptions of the original Native versions struck a bell with me, and I cannot help but to wonder if the Wendigo is not a legendary memory of an actual (unknown) form of Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. The progressive psychosis and the connection to cannibalism are both suggestive. This is of course idle speculation, as it appears to be an extinct phenomenon (if it ever existed at all).Ernest C. Ruger (talk) 00:50, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

I believe the story you're thinking of is the "Ithaqua", a short story written by August Derleth. 107.4.201.198 (talk) 00:49, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

Move Wendigo Psychosis to new article?

I suggest that the material on the Wendigo psychosis be moved to a separate article, leaving only a brief reference and wikilink in this one. The mythological creature and the psychiatric disorder really belong to separate fields of study. 850 C (talk) 20:31, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

I agree. Doctorhawkes (talk) 23:35, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

Wendigo as critical concept

"columbus and other cannibals" (jack d forbes) is the first source that springs to mind citably, but I know there are many other native american writers who've used Wendigo as a metaphor for the capitalist/industrial/exploitative attitude towards natural resources.

Also, add something about the way that in (some? all?) the cultures that describe Wendigo, its mention is seasonally taboo, (more dangerous in the winter) the same as several other stories(?) types of stories(?) about the supernatural. It's stuff I don't know how to summarize/cite yet, or don't have the resources. 96.42.44.124 (talk) 06:27, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

In reading the article I found it quite extraordinary that there was absolutely no mention of Forbes' or his book, it seems a curious omission. 90.218.165.157 (talk) 18:43, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 31 October 2015

Please add the following sources to the bibliography: Brightman, Robert (2015). "The Return of the Windigo, Again," Semiotic Review http://www.semioticreview.com/index.php/thematic-issues/issue-monsters/29-the-return-of-the-windigo-again.html

Smallman, Shawn (2014) Dangerous Spirits: the Windigo in Myth and HistoryItalic text' Victoria, BC: Heritage House Press. ISBN 978-1772030327 71.236.219.0 (talk) 23:04, 31 October 2015 (UTC)

Not done for now: Could you please note where these sources should be used in the article? Simply adding the sources doesn't help much if they do not act as inline citations. -- ferret (talk) 23:43, 31 October 2015 (UTC)

Possible re-wording needed?

I'm sure that it is obvious from my lack of an account that I am not a wiki contributor, so I feel that I would probably not be the best choice to make the changes I will propose henceforth. In the initial introductory paragraph(s) there is a reference to "Wendigo psychosis" that contains this sentence:

"This is supposed to be a culture-bound disorder that features of saucey flesh and a fear the sufferer is a cannibal."

Personally I find the wording used here nearly incomprehensible, especially the part "that features of saucey flesh." With that part removed, "This is supposed to be a culture-bound disorder that features a fear the sufferer is a cannibal." at least makes sense to a degree, although it sounds very improper and I don't think, personally, that it correctly expresses the nature of Wendigo psychosis. Upon further researching the disorder I have absolutely no clue as to why the original writer included the aforementioned part, or what the hell "saucey flesh" is...

If the wiki communities/contributors that maintain this page do decide to re-word that sentence and as well know what the original writer was talking about in that part of the sentence, it may be worth mentioning that I am fairly sure "saucey" should be spelled "saucy."

Wiindigokan

Motion to include a section, or at least some dialogue about the wiindigokan (sacred clown contraries) due to their close relation to the Taboo Reinforcement Ceremony (they evidently led the dance in Cree and Ojibwe Tribe). It would help to shed some light on the perception of the wiindigo monster within the culture, by helping people understand the word's origin, at least such as it exists within Ojibwe culture. Might be a good idea to even create a separate article for Wiindigokan and then link to it. I thought it might just turn into another borderline-stub like the "Heyoka" article, but there's a ton of information out there we could include about them. Although they are similar in tradition to the Heyoka, their style of behaviour, dress, and the folklore about them is actually quite distinct. I would argue that they are a unique enough sect to be noteworthy.

A Poorly Referenced Opinion

In some Indigenous communities, environmental destruction and insatiable greed are also seen as a manifestation of Windigo Psychosis.[7]

If you go to this reference you will find it is an online blog with a definite agenda. You can find out just what that agenda is if you'd bothered to read it. If Wikipedia wants to maintain its credibility in the mainstream then its editors need to find unbiased sources from which to take references. That means a source without an axe to grind. As it is this source is a load of crap. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.252.183.253 (talk) 23:54, 20 April 2016 (UTC)

The site is Mohawk Nation News. They use software also used by bloggers, but it's their official site. - CorbieV ^☊ ☼ 05:03, 21 April 2016 (UTC)

The source is still extremely one-sided and has a pre-determined opinion. This should be most obvious to anyone who reads it. Since it is not, Wikipedia editors for this article do NOT understand the basics of the use of unbiased sources. This article should be about a northeastern Native American legend. Nothing more, nothing less. It is not about other people's personal interpretations of the legend, it is not about other people's opinion of the legend, it is only about one particular legend. It is not for the editors of Wikipedia to inject THEIR PERSONAL OPINION into ANY article or use sources that exert biased on an article. This article as it is written obviously flouts that and with it the lip-service Wikipedia editors give to being an unbiased source of information without POV. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.51.145.103 (talk) 07:54, 21 April 2016 (UTC)

I agree with the above. The Mohawk Nation News column is an opinion piece using the wendigo as an allegory in reference to modern issues. It has absolutely nothing to do with historical Wendigo beliefs and has no place in the article. Everything referencing it as a source should be removed. Philip72 (talk) 01:17, 7 July 2016 (UTC)

Assessment comment

The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:Wendigo/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

Comment(s)

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This has the potential to eventually become a great article--the Wendigo is a fascinating figure in the traditions of a number of tribes. The work Witiko has been doing in adding info on Wendigo Psychosis is a good start, but of course much remains to be done. There need to be sources given for the description of the Wendigo's position in Aboriginal mythologies, and the lists need massive pruning and cleanup. The two most important things about the Wendigo are: (1) its importance in the mythological traditions of many northern American tribes, and (2) the phenomenon of Wendigo Psychosis. The fact that, say, "[a]n episode of PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal depicts the Wendigo as being normal in appearance, concealing its ravenous intent in order to avoid capture", or that "[i]n the role-playing game Shadowrun, the Wendigo is an orc infected by the HMHVV (Human Meta Human Vampiric Virus). He feeds on human flesh and looks like a white Sasquatch" are not what is important to note about the Wendigo in a Wikipedia article. That the pop-culture references list section is longer than the description of both the Wendigo's place in Native traditions and the phenomenon of Wendigo Psychosis combined is unacceptable. The three most important tasks, in my opinion, are: Finding and providing citations for information (descriptions of Wendigo mythological tradtions, which tribes had Wendigo myths, the section on Wendigo Psychosis, etc.) Expanding the sections mention in #1 Gutting the pop-culture reference lists and keeping only the most notable and relevant things --Miskwito 06:49, 2 February 2007 (UTC) I've removed most of the useless lists sections. --Miskwito 00:33, 19 February 2007 (UTC) After I've removed a bunch of other inappropriate stuff, we're left with what's basically a longish stub. Needs: inline citations discussion of Windigo Psychosis (with some examples of documented cases) discussion of the purpose of the Wendigo myth in Algonquian societies better description of the Wendigo's characteristsics At the least. Since I've been doing/will do a lot of work on this article, it needs (or will need) an independent review --Miskwito 18:16, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

Last edited at 18:16, 17 March 2007 (UTC). Substituted at 10:23, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

Photo Example

I apologize if I'm being dense, and meaning no insult to the photographer, but for the life of me I cannot make out any carving of anything in that photo. Is there a clearer example available? To me it just looks like a beautiful photo of a rock outcropping in the woods. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:246:0:ed97:194e:9162:4388:1ea5 (talk • contribs) 12:40, October 25, 2017 (UTC)

I thought exactly the same thing - and after staring at this image for a good half hour I can't make out any signs of human carving or interference with this clearly natural rock formation. Very confused. Tracking this image back to the creator, there seems to be no additional information presented. Google plus account has many other dubious and seemingly unfounded assumptions. - 10 Dec 2017. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 103.226.113.44 (talk • contribs) 06:13, December 10, 2017 (UTC)

Agreed; there is no corroboration or official acknowledgement in regards to this being a carving. The creator is the only person to proclaim this find. Given that it's an otherwise unfounded example, should the image be removed in favour of a better example (or no example)? - 15 Dec 2017. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mothmvn (talk • contribs) 15:41, 15 December 2017 (UTC)

I experienced the same thing - that photo doesn't look like much of anything, apart from a rocky cliffside in the wilderness - where is the carving? If the carving isn't apparent, ought there to be some kind of instruction on where to look? And if it's that hard to see - should that photo really be included? There's plenty of fine art depicting the article's subject. 174.25.1.104 (talk) 00:51, 5 January 2018 (UTC)

I also cannot make out the alleged carving nor find any corroborating evidence associating that location with the topic of the article. I have removed it from the article with a comment requesting participation in this talk page discussion. ▸₷truthious Ⓑandersnatch◂ 04:22, 5 January 2018 (UTC)

I also agree with the removal. And just a note that the image was uploaded by a user with the same user name as the person who has been claiming to have discovered this carving http://www.academia.edu/32926720/Ice_Age_Artifacts. If there really is a carving there (certainly can't tell from this image) there's no evidence anyone is calling it a Wendigo but him. Meters (talk) 04:53, 5 January 2018 (UTC)

I am trying to use Wikipedia properly, but I am new to this. Please be patient with me. I am submitting a new cropped version of the photo that was automatically generated by Twitter using my original photo. Root word of Wendigo is Owl. In original photo there is an Owl, Bird, Bear, Human, and Lion. The myth is the Wendigo is a Manitou that can move from one creature to another. I have presented this information to the State of Minnesota, they were very excited to learn about it, but their policy is secrecy at this time, to protect this non-renewable cultural resource. — Preceding unsigned comment added by SteveBenassi (talk • contribs) 13:38, 25 May 2018 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not the place to establish and interpret your photo as archaeological evidence related to Wendigos. Wikipedia articles document what verifiable, reliable sources say about a topic—the sorts of sources a journalist or an academic researcher summarizing the analysis of other experts would refer to. So your photo is going to have to be identified by archaeologists or similar experts as having something to do with Wendigo mythology and then be published about in a verifiable, reliable source before any claims like those can be published here at Wikipedia. --▸₷truthious Ⓑandersnatch◂ 16:55, 25 May 2018 (UTC)

Hunger

What I would like to know is whether a Wendigo would be able to control its hunger or does it continuously hunt whether it's full or not? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7D:42C8:3900:3D58:783C:9B24:AF8 (talk) 03:33, 17 January 2018 (UTC)

wendigo

the wendigo is a actual creature who posses a human when they turn to cannibalism they live in the northern woods of the US and Canada. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.104.189.194 (talk) 19:54, 6 February 2018 (UTC)

Close. It's an intangible spirit which transforms actual cannibalistic creatures. The spirit doesn't live or die, but the creatures do. Not particular to the north woods, only its name is local. The insane hunger for human flesh exists in deserts, at sea, on mountains and in caves. But calling it "the insane hunger for human flesh" makes it sound like a sex perversion, and it's not about that. Rather than agree upon what it essentially is about, most cultures politely decline to entertain the thought, much less label it. The Algonquin and French knew identifying it is the first step toward recognizing it and ultimately containing it. Some say they controlled it after that, some say they banished it, but whatever they did, the phenomena seems to have mostly dispersed. There was Issei Sagawa in Paris and Guy Leblond in North Bay, but even they were allegedly afflicted by something else. Pretty safe to say the "wendigo" (as we know it) is as dead as it's ever going to get. InedibleHulk (talk) 14:26, 7 February 2018 (UTC)

/* Semi-Protected against IP vandals */ protecting again

Too much disruption, consistently, over too long a period; so re-instating the protection. As I have also edited the page, if anyone has an issue with me pushing the button, feel free to appeal at WP:RPP. - CorbieVreccan ^☊ ☼ 19:51, 13 February 2020 (UTC)

Dead link

Reference #32 leads to a dead sub link. Could have been renamed or moved. ThatxGuy (talk) 14:08, 8 March 2020 (UTC)

Pop Culture Addition

The videogame Until Dawn uses a wendigo as one of the antagonists in its story. ThatxGuy (talk) 14:49, 8 March 2020 (UTC)

Would it be worth it to also mention the close parallels between the Others (White Walkers in the show) from A Song of Fire and Ice and wendigos in folklore? Everything down to their presence with blizzards and ice, their proximity to the walking dead (in folklore, what is made from the corpses of a wendigos prey) and their ability to turn living beings into themselves (the "willing" wendigo conversion, when one succumbs to the cannibalistic urges). Frankly, in discussion regarding the folklore, that's the go-to example that I use for a good idea of what wendigo are.The Kilted Heathen (talk) 17:44, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

Antlers

Apparently the traditional wendigo is not a shape shifter and is not normally depicted with antlers. But popular culture seems to depict them with antlers as their most prominent feature more often than not. Is it possible that the legend got crossed with that of the skinwalker? I should add, skinwalkers dont commonly have antlers either, but they are shape-shifters, and therefore a shape-shifter in an area where deer are common might assume the form of one. —Soap— 19:32, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

A comparison with modern western representations could be an interesting addition, so to note a whole "new" lore was created which is not like the various original native descriptions. Variations found in numerous video games and tv shows, some with antlers as mentioned above. In popular artistic culture (see Deviantart and other user submitted galeries online) the antlers or deer skull head are also popular too. It is a shift interesting to note, and while it can be explained by shapeshifting abilities in the original myth, it is not always portrayed as such in the western media including Wendigos. It could also be good to specify in respect of natives' representation of the being

limited preliminary sources for the differences can be the media's wiki pages, but also   and     and a more detailed thesis:   70.55.135.187 

(talk) 20:42, 22 August 2020 (UTC)

References

I have noticed this as well, thinking about adding an edit but not sure where.

Specifically, this appears to originate from the director of the movie 'Wendigo (film)'. Either way, these depictions are very inaccurate, and there should definitely be a section pointing this out.

65.98.156.18(talk) 21:50, 9 December 2020 (UTC)

References

I think the content needs to be re-written in regards to the intro summary where it states the pop-culture take on the "Wendigo" is referring to the "possibly European origins", since the idea of shape-shifters is not unique to European mythology and is present in virtually all cultures, including Native American mythology where you have skinwalkers which are known to shapeshift into all kinds of animals. There is no known origin of where or why wendigo are portrayed as having antlers (probably because from a marketing standpoint it gives them a very unique visage unlike many other monsters) but apparently Larry Fessenden was one of the first to depict them with antlers in the mainstream, first in his movie "Wendigo" and then later in his movie "The Last Winter" as well. I think the most likely scenario is that people mixed up the Wendigo myth and the Skinwalker myth and the two became synonymous with each-other.173.59.11.121 (talk) 06:26, 25 June 2021 (UTC)

Correct plural?

The plural "wendigoag" is listed in the Etymology section- as I understand it, that's the only correct plural? But the term "wendigos" is then used throughout the rest of the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Digitalbirthcontrol (talk • contribs) 20:49, 4 September 2020 (UTC)

Depends. "Wendigoag" would be the plural in the source language, "wendigos" would be the assimilated into English plural.--Khajidha (talk) 17:36, 20 October 2020 (UTC)

Semi-indeffed again

Every time the protection expires, the vandalism, or addition of unsourced commentary that needs to be removed, resumes. This page is such a perennial target, I think we are headed for permanent semi-protection next time. For now, I have re-instated the temporary protection to give our regular page patrollers a break. If anyone has an issue with this, as I also edit here, feel free to request changes to the page here on talk, or changes in protection level at WP:RPP. - CorbieVreccan ^☊ ☼ 19:10, 17 June 2021 (UTC)

Give the recent resumption of IP disruption, I've reinstated the semi-protection. - CorbieVreccan ^☊ ☼ 20:53, 20 February 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 18 October 2021

You should add a power section this is what it should say “The Wendigo has supernatural powers such as mimicking voices supernatural strength, supernatural speed, and some believers say that the Windigo can teleport. Another ability of the Windigo is the power to make things decompose faster such as its prey every time the Windigo kills its prey they decomposers in astounding speed till there is nothing but bones. There is also another ability that the Windygo has and that is the ability to shapeshift some believers say that when the Windigo gets close to its victims it shapeshifts into someone they can trust then when it's close enough it attacks the victim.” 2600:6C51:757F:4EB7:7C3F:DE4D:CAAB:B661 (talk) 21:49, 18 October 2021 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 23:21, 18 October 2021 (UTC)

Images?

Can images from literature be used? Maka09 (talk) 16:07, 13 April 2022 (UTC)

In Popular Culture

There is an excellent and spooky windego scene in the new gruesome animated non-verbal series "Primal" on HBOmax. S01E08 Coven of the Damned 76.121.4.52 (talk) 07:55, 1 May 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 22 June 2022

https://prnt.sc/NQzgCDHFe-Aw for the photo ImSirBacon (talk) 18:49, 22 June 2022 (UTC)

 Not done: Please upload an image, and me sure it has an acceptable license. We cannot use copyrighted images. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 19:54, 22 June 2022 (UTC)

In Pop Culture

The video game Until Dawn is literally all about Wendigos, and a lot of the characteristics match the legend, with it taking place in winter, their physical appearance, and how characters transform into wendigos, as well as fire being effective (as wendigo's hearts are made of ice). WizardWolf124 (talk) 15:03, 12 February 2023 (UTC)

If you have reliable sources to support that claim, you can add it! Carpimaps (talk) 14:10, 27 March 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 May 2023

2601:281:D881:FA80:6197:BA7B:7BC9:A6CF (talk) 01:08, 6 May 2023 (UTC)
You forgot about the most popular depiction of a wendigo is pop culture and that’s in the video game Until dawn where they have an Accurate depiction of the creature and it’s mythology

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Callmemirela 🍁 01:17, 6 May 2023 (UTC)

Wrong Image in the description

Good evening everyone, someone edited the image of the page with an inaccurate rapresentation of the Wendigo. Even the text right next to it says that in real folklore it doesen't have horns or a skull face, could someone change it with a proper one? An accurate artistic rapresentation could be the model used in the game Until Dawn. I would do it myself but I can't. Thanks Vektbaerer (talk) 15:22, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

If this is the case, you are correct that the image should be replaced.

Are there any reliable sources that can confirm the model used in Until Dawn is more accurate? Finding such sources would be a good start. 2A04:4A43:4A4F:E104:0:0:772:443E (talk) 15:40, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

Images used need to be public domain or licensed freely for use in Wikimedia, so images from a game are likely not usable. If the present image is outright misinformative, it should be removed now regardless of whether a replacement can be found. StereoFolic (talk) 16:47, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

Seems like this is  Done now by Kss5pj in these changes. StereoFolic (talk) 17:01, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 September 2023

Adding to the popular culture section the following:

The 2015 horror survival video game Until Dawn by Supermassive Games features the Wendigo as the main antagonist. CLBrierley (talk) 12:43, 25 September 2023 (UTC)

 Not done Trivial reference, see MOS:POPCULT * Pppery * _{it has begun...} 22:38, 7 October 2023 (UTC)

References

Photos ... Wendigo Manitou Carvings on Mount Trudee in Tettegouche State Park Minnesota

Suggested edit ...

Photos ... Wendigo Manitou Carvings on Mount Trudee in Tettegouche State Park Minnesota

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wendigo_Manitou.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wendigo_Manitou_Face.jpg  ... automatically cropped by Twitter facial recognition software

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bw0Ms8SCW6RjVERjWWVrM051MHc?resourcekey=0-G6mCgNxuRSPlgULKBreQCQ ... all photos

https://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Virginia_Minnesota ... Wendigo is featured in this film in Tettegouche

References

2601:444:300:B070:78DD:C663:1BC4:FBA (talk) 19:30, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 February 2024

Hi! I just thought that it would be incredibly relevant to add the video game 'Until Dawn' in the last section. It portrays the Wendigos in almost the exact format of the origin myth and ideas, even including Blackwood and the Crees. The physical attributes of the Wendigos are also human-like with taught skin, and they are also formed upon possession of someone who has turned to cannibalism in Canada. Littlemouserat (talk) 00:15, 14 February 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. JTP ^{(talk • contribs)} 04:58, 14 February 2024 (UTC)

Until Dawn not mentioned

Hello. Given that the Wendigoes are the main antagonists of Until Dawn - Wikipedia, why are they not mentioned in the popular culture of the article? Wendigo - Wikipedia This is especially baffling given that this is one of the few depictions of them to not be depicted with the antlers, and them being depicted as Indigenous mythology portrays them? I ask that Until Dawn be mentioned in the article. (2607:FEA8:7221:F600:D9AC:8F76:FAF4:45D2 (talk) 21:05, 20 May 2024 (UTC))

It's only one of many works that have used the creatures, so you need sources to back up its notability. Harryhenry1 (talk) 14:22, 25 June 2024 (UTC)

Add Wendigo Manitou photo and text to the lead paragraph area

Add Wendigo Manitou photo and text to the lead paragraph area.

"A Wendigo Manitou carving on Mount Trudee in Silver Bay, Minnesota"

https://allthatsinteresting.com/wendigo

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wendigo_Manitou.jpg 98.46.116.230 (talk) 15:04, 24 August 2024 (UTC)

Also see ...

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wendigo_Manitou_Face.jpg  ... automatically cropped by Twitter facial recognition software 98.46.116.230 (talk) 15:22, 24 August 2024 (UTC)

If the rocks have a visible carving of a wendigo figure, perhaps, but these images do not add to the understanding or illustration of the article subject: Wendigo (/ˈwɛndɪɡoʊ/) is a mythological creature or evil spirit originating from Algonquian folklore. The concept of the wendigo has been widely used in literature and other works of art, such as social commentary and horror fiction. Esowteric + Talk + Breadcrumbs 15:44, 24 August 2024 (UTC)

All That's Interesting is a reliable source.

This carving may be one the largest and oldest carvings of its kind in North America. It is located on the North Shore of Lake Superior, the Westernmost shore of the North American inland sea, where early explorers would naturally want to sail to from the Old World. A carving of this size shows how important the Wendigo story was to Native Americans, and that it may be based on real events in their history of early contact with non-Native people from the West. If this Wikipedia article can include artwork of Wendigos imagined, it can certainly include possible archaeological evidence of the Wendigo.

"But ironically enough, these stories might actually represent the Indigenous people’s response to the horrific violence unleashed on them by non-Native people. In fact, many anthropologists believe that the concept of a wendigo only developed after the Native people had contact with the Europeans."

Also see ...

https://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Talk:Wendigo#Photos_..._Wendigo_Manitou_Carvings_on_Mount_Trudee_in_Tettegouche_State_Park_Minnesota 98.46.116.230 (talk) 16:16, 24 August 2024 (UTC)

 Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{Edit semi-protected}} template. It looks like someone has opposed this change. ABG (Talk/Report any mistakes here) 02:30, 18 September 2024 (UTC)