The Story of an
Algonquin Legend
The Wendigo
By: Valerie Z. & Chloe CA.
What lurked in the forest?
Stories told across North America
(verbal & written)
Bony & thin, outlines of skeleton
visible.
Long arms & bent hind legs.
Antlers visible, resembles a moose
& deer.
Agile and stealthy
Habitat: North American forests,
near to Algonquin territory &
Hudson’s Bay
Only the bravest will remain
Represents greed, selfishness and isolation
Cold and hunger were the biggest threats
Cooperation is necessary for the well being of everyone
This greed is the monster
Biggest value is community
Its existence is to prove what happens if these values were not upheld
It’s a looming reminder to stay in line and not let selfishness overcome
Where is it from?
The Wendigo can be considered to be a well known and well feared creature. Specifically towards the
Algonquin people. They have said that “the beast is powerful and has a never ending desire to kill
and eat its victims”
The pronunciations or spellings of the Wendigo may vary
depending on culture or how its tale was told.
In Ojibwe (Anishinaabe people) the beast is said to be “a
winter cannibal monster”.
However, there are theories that the name might have
emerged from a proto-Algonquin word: Wi-nteko-wa
which means ‘owl’.
Windigo, tempera on heavy light
Proto-Algonquin: A language formed from various Algonquin brown building paper by Norval
Morrisseau, c. 1964; in the
languages that have been descended over time. This
collection of Glenbow, Calgary,
language was used up to an estimated 2,500- 3,000 years ago. Alberta, Canada.
This story teaches the importance of community and staying together.
Avoid selfishness and greed, share and get through it as a team.
How it all began..
One of the oldest found stories of the Wendigo begins with a
man of christian belief named Paul Le Jeune lived with the
Algonquin peoples. In 1636, he had described a story of ‘a
woman who had eaten mutiple Attikamegoukin people. He also
added that she was a suspected Windigo’ because of this
frightening incident, & the rumours & stories had then
spread through the Algonquin culture.
The Algonquins had beliefs of supernatural beings almost 60
years before the Salem Witch Trials(1692-1693). Thus
meaning the stories of the Windigo could be an estimated 332
years old.
