Drumming and Singing
had been going on all the time. By this time we were crazy with fear, and what followed is like a dream. Eliza sprang to her feet holding in her right hand a medicine belt and in her left an axe. Her hair was flying loose, and she was dancing and singing. All of a sudden she run round and thrashed Moostoos over the face and breast with the medicine belt several times."
"Did she strike him with the axe?"
"I cannot say as my head was bent low over Moostoos, but I saw blood outside the blanket after she thrashed him, and I only knew of two cuts on the head while the policeman found three. She then handed the axe to Chuckachuck (which I saw) and said, 'Here brother-in-law.' Chuckachuck struck him with the axe and
Split His Skull.
"That blow killed Moostoos. Chuckachuck then handed me the axe and a kinife, which I refused at first, till Chuckachuck called me a coward, and said I wanted them all killed. I then drove the knife into his belly, and stuck the axe into his body over the heart, leaving both weapons in the wounds."
"Did Moostoos breathe after he got the first blow?"
"Yes, a little ; but he had stopped breathing before I struck him. At that moment, Payoo, the other prisoner, alarmed by the screams of fear from the women and the calls of the men, entered the shack. He was handed an axe, and very reluctantly, and actually without looking where he was striking, struck the corpse on the head with the axe."
"What did you do that night?"
"Why, we sat round the body till daylight, by the light of the fire."
"What for?"
"We expected him to rise from the dead, and we wanted to kill him again if he tried to get up."
"What do you think was the matter with Moostoos?"
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| Windigo by Norval Morrisseau. |
"He was a Wentiko, and I know he had a lump of ice in his body causing the malady. Why, we made strong tea and poured it boiling hot into the axe hole and the breast to thaw that ice, but first Dayoo and I drove a stake into that hole ; then we pulled out the stake and poured in the hot tea. After that, towards morning, Entominahoo's wife and I tied his legs with chains to two pickets driven into the ground."
"Why did you do this?"
"So that if he came to life again he could not get up and run after us. And last of all next day I
Cut His Head Off
with an axe."
"What was that for?"
"To be sure he was dead, and in order that even if he got up he could not eat us. Then we left him in the shack, tied up the door and left the place."
"What is a Wehtiko?"
"A Wehtiko is a person, man or woman, into whose body enters a most malignant evil spirit, which incites him to kill and eat his fellowmen. He is possessed of superhuman strength and cunning, and the only thing that saves the Indians is that a Wehtiko generally warns them of his coming state some time beforehand. It has always been our custom to kill these people. It was the only way to protect our lives from their violence."
This story was not taken from the lips of a raving maniac, nor was it copied from some old black-letter history of the ninth or tenth century. The atrocity occurred not five months ago, within 300 miles of this town, and, above all, the pitful story, shocking in its hideous circumstance, must excite detestation on account of its depravity, but at the same time it must arouse compassion for these debased beings who can be so remorselessly moved by their superstitions.
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(From the Detroit Free Press, dated Sunday October 8th, 1899)
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(From The Province, dated Saturday 28th October, 1899)
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(From the Muncie Evening Press, dated Saturday 24th August, 1907)
INDIANS MURDER INSANE WOMAN UNDER AN OLD TRIBAL CUSTOM
Ceremony, Which Was Weirdly Carried Out, Clashes With Canadian Statutes.
(United Press Association)
Ottaawa, Aug. 24. - A report received at the government department of Indian affairs here shows that tribal customs and Canadian justice have clashed in the wilds of Kewatin. It appears that Joseph and Jack Fidler, the chief and his medicine man of the Sandy Lake Crees, are now under arrest at Norway house for the execution of an insane squaw according to the ancient Indian custom.
The woman, who is of the same name and blood as the two prisoners, fell sick in the spring and became delirious. The Indians of that district believe that when a sick person sinks into such a condition and evil spirit, or Wendigo, has entered and obtained control of him. they believe that should the person die naturally, the wendigo then escapes to the woods and pursues and frightens away game and famine follows.
In this case the tribe assembled and, according to custom, appointed their chief and medicine man to perform the ceremony of choking the sick squaw so that the wendigo spirit might not escape with the passing of the victim's breath, but might forever remain imprisoned in the dead body. Accordingly, in the presence of the whole band, the chief and the medicine man carried out the instuctions of their tribe.
A piece of canvas was placed about the squaw's neck and then the noose of a rope. This being tightened by the two leaders of the band, the ravings of the sick woman were effectually stopped, the evil spirit was kept within the body of the victim and the game of the forest preserved for the tribe.
This atrocious act of barbarism was executed within 200 miles of Kenora, Man. Word of it soon reached the authorities and the arrests followed at once. The prisoners besought the officials not to be so severe with them, as they had no idea that they were doing wrong. they declared that they were merely doing their duty at the command of the tribe, and followed the custom practiced by their forefathers.
The execution of this duty was considered a high honor and according to ancient custom the executors were handsomely rewarded by the parents of the victim. The justice department here is to decide on the trial of the case.
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HOW THE ERMINE GOT IT'S SKIN
(From The Border Cities Star, dated Monday February 23rd, 1920)
In "Indian Legends and Customs" several stories current among the western tribes are told as they related to the author himself. A charming legend accounts for the ermine's white skin and black-tipped tail.
"Once upon a time, Wesakachac was tormented by a Wendigo, an evil spirit who pursued him night and day. He ran through the forest calling upon his animal friends for help. The ermine, a little creature with a black skin, hid in a tree and as the Wendigo passed, leaped down his throat and ate his wicked heart out. To show his deep gratitude, Wesakachac returned to the spot and taking the ermine in one of his hands, he stroked it's fur with the other. When with a last caress he sat the little creature down, lo, its skin was white, all except the tip of the tail, which the hero's fingers had failed to touch."
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(From The Ottawa Citizen, dated Saturday 20th February, 1926)
UNCANNY STORIES RE MALIGNANT WENDIGOES
"Wendigo Mound" Suggests Some Weird Traditions
According to the testimony of old residents in the neighborhood of Wendigo Mound, human bones, and in one instance an entire human skeleton, have been washed out of the sands near this dune.
Many uncanny and gruesome stories are associated with the sand mound. They have been transmitted from father to son, from the time of the old French voyageurs.
According to one of these traditions this sand mound was, in the old days, occupied by a family of Wendigoes. These people were a constant annoyance to the dwellers on Lake Deschenes, but more particularly to an Algonkin camp on Sand Bay, quite close to the headquarters of these malignant beings. The old man, who posessed the gigantic proportions of his class, was frequently seen wading about in the waters of the bay, when on foraging expeditions aftr Indian children, of whose flesh, it is said, he and his family were particularly fond. The family consisted of the old man and his wife, and one son.
A Brave Indian
The bravest Indian warriors had, on several occasions, ambushed and shot at the old man and woman without injuring either of them ; but, by means of sorcery they eventually succeeded in kidnapping the boy, when his parents were away from home. Holding the young hopeful as a hostage, they managed to dictate terms to his father and mother and finally got rid of the whole family.
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Jack Fiddler
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(From wikipedia...)
Like his father before him, Jack Fiddler became a famous shaman for his alleged ability to conjure animals and protect his people from spells. Most importantly to the people of the region, he could allegedly successfully defeat the wendigo, a cannibalistic spirit that would possess people during all-too-frequent bouts of famine and disease. In his life, Jack Fiddler claimed to have defeated fourteen wendigos.
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(From The Ottawa Citizen, dated Saturday June 9th, 1928)
A Weird Story of a Ghostly Noise; Squaw Said It Was Made by a Wendigo
Peculiar Happenings Which Preceeded the Death of a Mountain Road Widow Some 35 Years Ago. Most Rigid Investigation Failed to Explain the Cause of the Noise.
This is a ghost story and a rather a weird sort of a one at that. Can you suggest what kind of ghost goes "click, click, click"; can't be seen, and follows people home?
"Old Betsy," the South Hull squaw, whom thousands knew, said it was a wendigo, or Indian spirit, and perhaps she was right at that.
Here is the story. Judge for yourself. The story is told by Mrs Dan Crilly of the Mountain road. According to Mrs. Crilly the thing happened about 35 years ago and occurred in the home of an old widow lady who lived back from the Mountain road, east of where the Deschene road joins the Mountain road.
The old lady took very sick and visitors began to call. Those who went heard in the house a peculiar "click, click, click" noise that could not be located and could not be explained.
Followed People Home.
If the noise had been heard only in the house people might have put it down for that of a cricket or other insect, though it was entirely different in sound to that of any known insect, being quite loud.
But it was not long before one visitor, a lady, declared that the noise followed her out of the house and stopped only when she reached the gate of the farm.
Heard By Two.
Then a male visitor declared that the "click, click, click" noise had followed him to his very door and had been heard there by his wife.
The story of the noise spread and the old lady began to have scores of curious and noise-hunting visitors. None of them, however, could locate the noise or say what it was. It was here, there and everywhere in the room.
Young Men Sleuths.
Finally two young men, who claimed to be ghost layers called and said they would find out all about it. But they didn't. In fact they had quite a weird and mystifying experience.
The noise suddenly was heard outside the house door. They opened the door and then the noise was heard in the garden. To make the story shorter, the noise receeded from them, and they followed it, just as one follows a will-o'-the-wisp.
Led Them a Chase.
The noise led them across fields into the bush, through swamp land, over rocks, but not once could they put their hands on anything that was making the noise. The next night they went back to the house and acknowledged themselves beaten. Then "Old Betsy" the Indian woman, who was known all over South Hull, heard of the noise and called.
Betsy's Idea
After listening a while she said "That's a wendigo. Don't try to see it or find it. You can't. A wendigo (Indian spirit), will never show itself."
The story goes that in due time the sick lady died. And, according to Mrs. Crilly, the "click, click, click" noise was not afterwards heard. Though 35 years have elapsed there has never been a plausible explanation of the noise offered.
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(From The Winnipeg Tribune, dated Friday 31st January, 1947)
TAKES LOTS OF WHISKY TO BEAT WENDIGO
SAM, Medicine Man, To Conjure Evil Spirit
By R. L. TAYLOR (Special to The Winnipeg Tribune)
THE PAS, Jan. 31 - Five hundred Cree residents of the isolated Indian village of Shamattawa, 120 miles south of York Factory, are much relieved today as their chief medicine man has consented to conjure the Wendigo this spring. The Wendigo is explained as the "heathen Indian spirit of evil."
Sam Beardy, a stocky little man with graying hair, is their David, and the Goliath-like Wendigo is scheduled to make his annual visit from the Nether regions some time in July. It will be a battle of magic, but no one will see it. If Sam can rout the Wendigo, the tribe will be safe for another year. If his magic fails him the white men will find a whole village of Indians has disappeared into thin air - that is the Wendigo's price.
Although it is ten years since the Wendigo has been observed - when he trudged through the eight feet deep rapids of the Echoing river, which only reached to his knees - there have been evidences that he still seeks human flesh after his winter's hibernation. Last year they saw his footprints - six feet deep with the ice and snow all melted around them from the heat he brings with him through his stairway beneath Echoing Lake.
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Wendigo by Cecil Youngfox
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Last year too, the terrified tribesmen heard him breathing while Sam went forth. He wasn't sure whether he had killed the Wendigo, but at any rate he conjured him home for another year.
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