On the subject of Wendigo...

[Tenant Unpleasant 4]

So, I've seen this mentioned in various communities, but for the sake of hopefully making the devs aware as well, I'll leave a few quotes from more knowledgeable folks than myself on why it can be culturally insensitive to use the name Wendigo in fictional media:

> From RC Smiley on Quora
"Wendigo is generally considered taboo to be spoken by many Anishnaabe people, who frequently have asked settlers to stop using the term in their fiction. The good news here is, the Wendigo as it is featured in much of pop culture, being a rotting deer like creature, is pretty much whole sale a creation of Stephen King & does not resemble the frozen cannibal spirit of Indigenous folk lore. So if you want to use that monster, I would say go for it… just maybe change its name.

For more information about the actual Wendigo in Anishnaabe folklore, I recommend reading Braiding Sweet Grass"

> From Lesya on Writing With Color
"The question shouldn’t be “is it appropriation if I change [the Wendigo lore for my story]?” but “is it appropriation if I use it outside of its original context?”

The answer is yes, it is appropriation to use it out of Algonquin context.

The Wendigo is not some supernatural creature to pick at random and include because it’s the latest horror fad. It is a part of a living, breathing religion that created the Wendigo for a very specific purpose. You cannot just go around picking monsters at random from other cultures because they sound cool or fit your plot the best.

If you were really wanting to use the Wendigo, make the story Algonquin-centric. Native protagonists who believe in this stuff and grew up with the legends. The appropriate setting in Algonquin territory. The entirety of the religion, not just one sensationalist part. The Wendigo means something to the Algonquin. It provides a key piece of their beliefs.

It’s not “just” a “fantasy creature”. One, there is no such thing as “just” when dealing with representation, because all forms of racism and appropriation are hurtful. Two, the Wendigo is not a “fantasy creature”. It is a part of a mythology and religion that still exists. Treat it with that respect.

Using it out of the original context is appropriation. Changing it to fit your own plot is selfishly putting your own story above the culture you’re hurting by misrepresenting them.

[...]

This also means they don’t belong interacting with witches, especially Christian witches.

[...]

[In addition] having Native characters be tied to the Wendigo is honestly disturbing. As mentioned, the Wendigo is often a definition of evil. It is an insatiable hunger; it is pure greed. It’s wild and untamed. It’s every negative stereotype of Native Americans— cannibals, demonic, rabid, indiscriminate hunters, a threat to civilized society— wrapped up into one."

In short, the model being a rotting deer monster is fine, just maybe consider changing the name.

[AdorableSparrow]

Originally posted by Hex: Other Gay:

So, I've seen this mentioned in various communities, but for the sake of hopefully making the devs aware as well, I'll leave a few quotes from more knowledgeable folks than myself on why it can be culturally insensitive to use the name Wendigo in fictional media:

> From RC Smiley on Quora
"Wendigo is generally considered taboo to be spoken by many Anishnaabe people, who frequently have asked settlers to stop using the term in their fiction. The good news here is, the Wendigo as it is featured in much of pop culture, being a rotting deer like creature, is pretty much whole sale a creation of Stephen King & does not resemble the frozen cannibal spirit of Indigenous folk lore. So if you want to use that monster, I would say go for it… just maybe change its name.

For more information about the actual Wendigo in Anishnaabe folklore, I recommend reading Braiding Sweet Grass"

> From Lesya on Writing With Color
"The question shouldn’t be “is it appropriation if I change [the Wendigo lore for my story]?” but “is it appropriation if I use it outside of its original context?”

The answer is yes, it is appropriation to use it out of Algonquin context.

The Wendigo is not some supernatural creature to pick at random and include because it’s the latest horror fad. It is a part of a living, breathing religion that created the Wendigo for a very specific purpose. You cannot just go around picking monsters at random from other cultures because they sound cool or fit your plot the best.

If you were really wanting to use the Wendigo, make the story Algonquin-centric. Native protagonists who believe in this stuff and grew up with the legends. The appropriate setting in Algonquin territory. The entirety of the religion, not just one sensationalist part. The Wendigo means something to the Algonquin. It provides a key piece of their beliefs.

It’s not “just” a “fantasy creature”. One, there is no such thing as “just” when dealing with representation, because all forms of racism and appropriation are hurtful. Two, the Wendigo is not a “fantasy creature”. It is a part of a mythology and religion that still exists. Treat it with that respect.

Using it out of the original context is appropriation. Changing it to fit your own plot is selfishly putting your own story above the culture you’re hurting by misrepresenting them.

[...]

This also means they don’t belong interacting with witches, especially Christian witches.

[...]

[In addition] having Native characters be tied to the Wendigo is honestly disturbing. As mentioned, the Wendigo is often a definition of evil. It is an insatiable hunger; it is pure greed. It’s wild and untamed. It’s every negative stereotype of Native Americans— cannibals, demonic, rabid, indiscriminate hunters, a threat to civilized society— wrapped up into one."

In short, the model being a rotting deer monster is fine, just maybe consider changing the name.

you have to be kidding me. yeah no people don't change common stuff just because of one peoples way of thinking or ideals if they did mountains of text speech and other things would have to change so no. things always have origins. most of the stuff around the Devil is Christianity is wrong yet no one corrects it or demands them to respect the original descriptions.

[FluffyMister]

First Your unironically citing Quora the internet equivalent of citing the homeless guy who lives in my alley as the source for a paper. Second who gives a ♥♥♥♥ about the name and why are you just stopping at the wendigo you know the sasquatch is the same origin if you want everyone to change also using the name of a native monster isn’t appropriation you might have a case if a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ random npc who was a stereotype pops up but a monster aint it chief.

[Sklibber]

I can't tell if this is bait or not

[๖ۣۜ𝓞ɱεn̷➶]

It's a post