Wendigo, The sinister Algonquin creature

Wendigo is a sinister creature belonging to the Algonquin first nation tribe culture. The appearance and origin of the creature vary greatly, but they all have few details in common. All of them state that Wendigo originated from a man who turned into a predatory monster after committing an act of cannibalism and dwells in cold weather. Although his appearance isn’t specific, he is generally depicted around 15 feet tall, having a semi-animalistic and skeletal appearance. Another common characteristic is that the Wendigo has antlers, some time on a human head and some time on an elk one.

Wendigo is a feared creature amongst the Algonquins. As a great predator, he always hunts to satisfy its insatiable hunger for human flesh. The many unexplained disappearances among the tribe were blamed on this beast. Although Wendigo is more of a beast than a man, he has proven itself to be a crafty predator. Often, he uses clever stratagems to lure his victims into the woods to capture them. His favourite one being mimicking the human voice, which he is frighteningly skilled at. However, Wendigo is not invincible. It was noted that conventional weapons could hurt him. Direct confrontation isn’t recommended though, as he can be swift and strong and an excellent stalker – which is bad news for anyone wanting to approach him. The most efficient way to drive him away remains a shamanic ritual. So, next time you go in the woods in North America during the wintertime, be on your guards as you might as well become the great hunter’s next meal!