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. You dont have to be French to love the Phantom of the Opera. 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? 246 33 Beyond Forbes, other Native American thinkers have also used wendigo stories to present critical perspectives on various social problems and call for their resolution. 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. 0000012030 00000 n 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. media has really misconstrued the original lore and importance of the w*ndigo to Indigenous culture. Dollightful's Wendigo Doll - Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation? It springs from the well of the collective human unconscious, the communal soul. This is a place to learn more bout Social Justice In my blind quest to represent everyone, all I did was reinforce the problem. Political correctness started out as one thing, a good thing. The Witherell House and the Cult of Weird, Movie Review: BIRDS OF PREY (And the Fantabulous Inclusion of Victor Zsasz and a Hyena). Facing History & Ourselves uses lessons of history to challenge 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. 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. :)Looking to buy some stickers or look at some pictures of my art or my other things? 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. 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. Please report rule violations. After thinking about it more, I think I get it about the wendigos. +9*]aty``mZm/[= ${2R{!g=b{B,L0R2"T]IDa. 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. 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. 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. By Christian Chiakulas, Contributor Writer, musician, activist, single father from Chicago. it's just something thats been bothering me so i thought it'd come to reddit to see what other people thought. Europeans may well have behaved like Wendigos when they invaded the Americasthey didbut they didnt bring the Wendigo with them. 0000015547 00000 n 0000001546 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. 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. Scan this QR code to download the app now. 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. Be supportive, this is a place for growth, not hostility. Privacy Policy. 0000010400 00000 n o&g( 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. During a panel at YES! 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). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. And you know what? "@TheThiccholas @realcoolJAY They can't say Issa wendigo cus of cultural appropriation props to them buuuuuut also WENDIGO type energy sooo " 0000003862 00000 n But I do notice that Eyre stopped short of saying colonialization is the origin for the Wendigo legend. i love the videos uploaded to youtube and try to keep up with posts, so this is by no means a bash at Wendigoon. 0000012791 00000 n Cooper and del Toro made the conscious decision to tell the story of the wendigo in a way that is respectful to its Native American roots, which in turn helps make Antlers a more authentic horror film. Posted by Topics: 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. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. i don't know if anyone has talked about this, but i have a special interest in Native American culture, history, etc. I believe that the Wendigo is far older than that, far more primal. 0000009056 00000 n 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 . 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. 1. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. Welcome to Facing Today, a Facing History blog. 0 Ill admit, my initial reaction was very dismissive. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. If you were to look around the world about other religions, anything that is associated with death and disease is regarded upon. 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. <> Not only is it not offensive, I LOVE seeing references to wendigos in popular culture! 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. x\o7a_h ss+yHL$eW}gfw)$/D !;n*+v}}uSU|.&-y And whoever!). 0000003465 00000 n The windigo is a Native American spirit belonging to the Algonquian tribes of North America and Canada. endobj 1 0 obj You must be here to either learn more about social justice or answer questions from a social justice viewpoint. I have always felt a distinct emotional connection to it, in fact. appropriation that has troubled the exchange between Indigenous . As it so happens, I am currently working on a project involving a Wendigo, so this is personal to me. 0000005961 00000 n and our It was intended to be a lesson on human greed and the damage it can cause. 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. endobj i don't think there should be any 'canceling' of Wendigoon or whatever, but definitely something should be said. % This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Posts and comments should be substantive, and assertions backed in fact or personal lived experience. Scan this QR code to download the app now. My basic rule is simple: be respectful. 0000002723 00000 n 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. 4. 0000001365 00000 n 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. When the soldiers reach Ives' cave, Boyd and Reich investigate. 0000005304 00000 n Learn how your comment data is processed. %PDF-1.7 Western appropriation has long-lasting effects on the perceptions of Native American cultures by the average consumer and even scientific communities. 0000008020 00000 n Sponsored by Ball State University Libraries. HeyYaIQ 21 days ago. The windigo is a Native American spirit belonging to the Algonquian tribes of North America and Canada. however, the w*ndigo originates from spiritual beliefs held by Indigenous peoples. Only assholes think thats offensive. But as far as cultural appropriation and the Wendigo goes, dont you daredont you DAREtry to take our monsters away from us, PC wankers! 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. trailer 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! 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. Tell us about it in the comments. <>/Metadata 266 0 R/ViewerPreferences 267 0 R>> 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. Windigo is a malevolent manitou or spirit whose insatiable appetite for human flesh can never be satisfied. Film, Im just struggling to understand the significance of it. Just as the vampire and werewolf do not belong exclusively to people of European descent and the Mummy doesnt belong to Egyptians. endobj <<410561E535828C4ABA4EA5627C70A225>]/Prev 78716/XRefStm 1365>> And they are worth considering including in ones classroom teaching. Still though, Im not sure I fully get the Native American spirits(?) Participate in good faith. 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. I just posted a new video talking about cultural appropriation and art! This subreddit is about sharing your worlds, discovering the creations of others, and discussing the many aspects of creating new universes. xref No one can try to stake a singular claim to it. %%EOF It has become something else altogether. 278 0 obj <>stream 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. 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). 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. a lot of Natives and people in general don't even like saying the word itself. 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. Have you encountered wendigo stories in films, television shows, or books? Marvel Comics pay tribute to classic Monsters. It was already here. So yeah, if anyone could offer any insight/information, thatd be appreciated. In the course of the transformation from human to wendigo, the person exhibits increasing selfishness, violence, hunger, and greedparticularly for human flesh. As a concept, wendigo can apply to situations other than some Native American-European relations. You dont have to be of Afro-Caribbean descent to talk about, write about, or make movies about zombies. There's nothing wrong with drawing the popular concept of a wendigo monster, or drawing any monster with antlers, and calling it a wendigo. Stolen Spirits: The Appropriation of the Windigo Spirit in Horror Literature. That taste of human flesh, which out of that rose the wendigo.. 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. I really just want to learn about how to appreciate aspects of cultures that I am not included in respectfully. 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). startxref Facing History and Ourselves combats racism and antisemitism by using history to teach tolerance in classrooms around the globe. 0000012532 00000 n Cultural appropriation is the co-optation of elements, customs, or practices of one culture by another culture without acknowledgment or consent. 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. Only those entitled to them should wear them. l Ca#!LzH{t+8W5 !2*_{)rgx-`]CTXSH($g 0000010971 00000 n 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 . 0000006529 00000 n 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.
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