Wendigo

The Wendigo is a malevolent spirit from Algonquian folklore that possesses humans, causing insatiable hunger for human flesh and murderous impulses. Often depicted as a tall, emaciated humanoid with a heart of ice, its approach brings a foul stench or sudden cold. First documented in 1636 by missionary Paul Le Jeune, this entity inspired "Wendigo psychosis" in psychiatry. Some First Nations communities view symptoms like greed and environmental destruction as Wendigo-related. The similar Athabaskan wechuge is cannibalistic but possesses ancestral insights. The Wendigo has become a powerful symbol in horror fiction, films, and social commentary, representing the dangers of greed, isolation, and the harsh winter conditions of northern forests. Stories warn that those who resort to cannibalism during harsh winters risk transformation into this eternally hungry spirit.