Windigo Psychosis
The Edmonton Sun offers this description of a bizarre murder that occurred in 1887 near Canada's Slave Lake:Marie Courtereille, 40, died after being struck four times with an axe -- twice by her husband Michel Courtereille and twice by her son Cecil. Testimony at their trial indicated that Marie had begged to be killed because she believed she was possessed by a Windigo, telling them, "I am bound to eat you." Over a period of several weeks, she became increasingly aggressive, "roaring like an animal" and attacking her husband.
Eventually, she was tied down and guarded around the clock until it was decided that there was no choice but to kill her. The community supported the killing.
Eventually, she was tied down and guarded around the clock until it was decided that there was no choice but to kill her. The community supported the killing.
A Windigo (also spelled Wendigo) is a creature from Algonquin mythology. The Algonquins believed that Windigos were malevolent spirits who could possess people, transforming them into "wild-eyed, violent, flesh-eating maniacs with superhuman strength." Horror fans will be familiar with Windigos, since they've featured in a number of horror books and movies.
The term "Windigo psychosis" describes a psychological condition in which people who believed they were possessed by a Windigo would go on cannibalistic rampages.
Many researchers regard Windigo psychosis as something of an Algonquin urban legend, but ethno-historian Nathan Carlson argues that it was a real phenomenon "which haunted communities right across northern Alberta in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries and cost dozens of lives." Carlson is working on a book that will documents dozens of cases of Windigo psychosis. Sounds like fun reading.
More about Windigos in Wikipedia. (Thanks to DJ_Canada for the link)
Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
"Hi, boss? I'm afraid I can't come in to work today. No, I've apparently been possessed by a Wendigo, and I fear if I have to come in, I may go on a cannibalistic rampage."
I'll let you know how that works out for me tomorrow.
I'll let you know how that works out for me tomorrow.
Posted by kingmonkey in Casnadia on 07/21 at 09:48 AM
...but not to be confused with Winnebago psychosis, which is the belief that you have been possessed by the spirit of Verne and Betty Carmichael, of Bloomington, IN and forced to drive, very slowly, down every freeway in the United States in order to "see America."
Posted by US Grant on 07/21 at 10:09 AM
Yeah, kingmonkey, assuming psychiatric wards have Internet access now.
Posted by Fred on 07/21 at 11:03 AM
As I'm always saying, psychosis is just another name for demonic possession, and vice versa.
Posted by Big Gary in North Zulch, Texas on 07/21 at 04:08 PM
Apparently, my boss wasn't terribly convinced by my Windigo-possession claim. I had to kill and eat two people before she let me have the afternoon off.
What's the world coming to?
What's the world coming to?
Posted by kingmonkey in Casnadia on 07/22 at 01:45 PM
Robert Carlyle could not be reached for comment.
Posted by Ken Lowery in Dallas, TX on 07/22 at 03:19 PM
What more that interested to me about this was the fact it is so close to home. I had no idea these historic legends or types of stories happened or had happened around here.
The man was executed 15-20 minutes from where I live. Makes you think.
PS; click my (nick)name on the main topic to see the whole story, it was 3 different articals, and I posted it on Alex's MOH forum page. [The link will take you there].
But it goes to show you, not All newspapers with the "Sun" name have fools and idiots working for them. Tho I am shocked they did not mention different spellings or other stories outside the Country, even.
The man was executed 15-20 minutes from where I live. Makes you think.
PS; click my (nick)name on the main topic to see the whole story, it was 3 different articals, and I posted it on Alex's MOH forum page. [The link will take you there].
But it goes to show you, not All newspapers with the "Sun" name have fools and idiots working for them. Tho I am shocked they did not mention different spellings or other stories outside the Country, even.
Posted by DJ_Canada on 07/22 at 08:58 PM
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Category: Crime, Horror, Psychology