28 replies to this topic

[wayne2241]

Here's a link that tells the story of the Wendigo. Pretty cool stuff.

http://www.prairiegh...om/wendigo.html

[secretsign]

According to my Ghost and Spirits encyclopedia a windigo(also wendigo,wiendigo) in North America Indian beliefs, a dangerous, cannibalistic being. The Algonquain say it roams about the forests, devouring hapless humans. Hunters who become lost and are forced to eat human flesh become windigos.The Objibwa consider it to be an ice monster who can posses individuals and cause them to eat their own family members. the windigo sickness is the worst type of psychic sickness that can befall a shaman, and can be brought on by egotistical abuse of shamanic powers or loss of control in spirit possession.
   White settlers in Minnesota regarded the windigo of the Ojibwa as a death omen ghost; the supersitition was prevalent in some parts of the states as late as the early 20th century.
   The windigo was described as a 15-foot-tall being in dazzling white,with a star in the middle of its forehead. It roamed the forests, swamps and praries.
   Its appearance, in either day or night, was inevitably followed by a death in the family.
   Not to nice and it would keep me out of the woods.

[secretsign]

That happens to me alot too. Its very nerve racking :o

[Camille]

Secret,

I've heard of the Wendigo, but not the specifics as you've just posted.

That's very interesting.  There's a site in NE Ohio, called Top O' the World, which is really a farm (now owned by a park) that was built on sacred Native American land.  It is surrounded by forest park land.  Historical records indicate violent, bloody battles between white settlers and local tribes nearby prior to the permanent taking of the land.  A hostile, "black shadow" entity is rumored to wander this land.  It gets even more interesting--the legend is that one of the subsequent white owners, a farmer, killed/mutilated his own family, then committed suicide.  Don't know if this part is true, although park officials, while conducting tours of the homestead for a brief period in the late '70's, acknowledged that the family of one of the early landowners died within a short period of time and were buried in various graves somewhere on the property.    

I get emails on this site fairly regularly (many talk of the same black shadow figure), and have researched the background of this area.  

Perhaps this is a variation of a Wendigo tale?  Makes sense.

Could you give me bibliog. info on that encyclodpedia?  Would like to look into that further.  Thanks!

[secretsign]

The encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits is by Rosemary Ellen Guiley and cover everything from a to z. It also listed for further reading .The Shaman Patterns of Religious Healing Among the Ojibway Indians.It also said see Banshee; Death Omens. I hope this helps.

[Camille]

Thanks.  

[secretsign]

I would like to hear more on the black shadow figure. I'm from Ohio and as a girl we used to go to the Indians Mounds. I'm sure this was scared land which was a park and a museum then. I'm not sure on the location. I'd have to ask my Mom.

[Camille]

Here's a link to the page I put up on Top O' The World:

http://www.deadohio....opOtheWorld.htm

Additional stories regarding a shadow figure/beast were emailed to me by others and can be found by going to this page, and clicking on the Top O the World bookmark:

http://www.deadohio.com/StoriesEtc.htm

In addition to those reader contributions talking about a black shadow figure/beast, while researching the place and interviewing for the site, other similar stories of a "menacing shadow" came up.  The stories about the farm often overlap with that of another local urban legend regarding The Seven Barns.  

http://www.deadohio.com/SevenBarns.htm

From Ohio, eh?  Where were the Indian Mounds you visited as a child?  I'm guessing that they're part of the more famous mounds (serpent, fort hill, earthworks, etc.) located in Central and Southwest Ohio.

Hope this info helps.

[secretsign]

Oh gosh I think it was Ft Hill that one rings a bell with me, ???
I know it was a nice little drive from Cincinnati.

Thanks for the info

[Angel_of_Death]

So is the Windigo or whatever usually believed to be an abnormal human shaman or a beast?

[secretsign]

From what I'v read it is a beast,but if a Shaman abused his powers he turns in to one.

[Angel_of_Death]

Gotchya