#wendigo — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #wendigo, aggregated by home.social.
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CRYPTID CORPS #1 REVIEW: THIS MONSTER SQUAD CAME READY TO THROW HANDS
Bigfoot, Mothman, a Wendigo, a Chupacabra, and a...
https://comiccrusaders.com/comics/comic-book-previews/cryptid-corps-1-review/
#Cryptid Corps #Cryptid Corps #1 #Antarctic Press #Massive Publishing #Anthony Cleveland #Max Bertolini #Claudio Nunes #Rob Jones #Anthony D Grate #indie comics #horror comics #science fiction comics #supernatural comics #Bigfoot #Mothman #Chupacabra #Wendigo #comic book reviews #Comic Crusaders -
The Farmer’s Word: Winona LaDuke, a False Etymology, and the True Root of “Colonization”
A reader sent me a video clip. In it, Winona LaDuke opens a talk on colonization by reaching for the dictionary, and the first thing she says is wrong. LaDuke is Anishinaabe, from White Earth in northern Minnesota. She trained as an economist, ran twice for vice president on the Green Party ticket, wrote All Our Relations, and has spent four decades on wild rice, pipelines, and land recovery. Rooms fill when she speaks. So when she tells an audience that colonization "has the same root as the word colon" and that the root "means to digest," that line travels. It is vivid, it is anatomical, it is easy to repeat, and it is the sentence people carry home. It is also folklore. This is a claim about the history of a word; no lexicon supports it, and it collapses the moment anyone opens a Greek dictionary. The rest of her argument is largely sound and in places understated. That is exactly why the false root matters. An argument this strong should not be walking around with a demolition charge strapped to its opening line. […] -
North American Cryptid Museum
A new attraction in Plano, Texas is not a cryptozoology museum but a celebration of pop cryptids.
Have you heard about the new “cryptid museum” in Plano, TX? I haven’t been and will almost certainly never get there but, from what’s been shared so far, it’s a collection of dioramas and models featuring several unnatural and fearsome creature like dogman/werewolves, pale crawlers, nightcrawlers, not-deer, and the wendigo, “each crafted exactly as eyewitnesses described them”. The North American Cryptid Museum is not an actual museum in the sense of curation of artifacts and planned informal education presentations. Instead, the owner describes it as a tribute to what the witnesses claim to have seen – more like a wax museum.
Those associated with the museum responded to my PopCryptid Instagram post by describing their mission. The owner Allen Hopps is “a lifetime monster lover”. The exhibits are mostly created by the staff based off eyewitness encounters and media reports. Some of the props are commercial creations that have been altered into cryptids.
The owner himself also responded. I’m quoting it directly because of how stunningly it slots into the Pop Cryptid model:
“The Museum has very little to do with Cryptozoology. Thats why I dont use the cryptozoology term in the name. we are just about the cryptids- Im not trying to prove they are real, Im not looking for evidence- Im just capturing a moment in time from an amalgam of sightings and lore. Its an art museum as much as anything. I wanted people to see the things the witnesses claim to have seen. Im not huning for bigfoot, Im just sculpting him based on the descriptions of people who found him. […] Im Allen H the owner.”
“Im not looking to change the museum into something more scientific. Im not a cryptozoologist. I love monsters and I think they are fun. Some people see monsters and we made a museum where you can see what they say they saw. I dont want it to be anything more than that, people do seem to enjoy it. Im not pleading their case or trying to prove or disprove anything. I just want it to be 30 min to an hour of looking at cool stuff.If you like cryptids then you might like it. I guess it’s more about the art and the lore, other people do the science great, but they may not have enough full-size exhibits to capture the common attention- just the special interest visitors. Im sure we will make more cryptozoologists, but Im not one myself. Im a monster maker.”
Note the specific distancing from cryptozoology and anything scientific or evidence-based. It’s about the culturally-derived creatures that are beloved and popular in storytelling. The effort is not associated with finding or establishing the cryptid, it’s about experiencing and imagining. In contrast to a few Bigfoot museums and the International Cryptozoology Museum that aim to promote research and evidence, fun and wonder seem to be the only agenda. The business is associated with a Haunted House attraction – this is for people who want to have a fun time with monsters.
However, the quotes contrast with what’s on the website, that says it is, “a curated exhibition of folklore, field evidence, and immersive environments exploring legendary creatures reported across North America. It blends regional myth, scientific inquiry, and experiential design.”
Hmmm… not so much. For reference, actual museums have trained curators, and folklorists have PhDs. We have none of that here. So, the promotional hype is oversold. Old school serious cryptozoologists, usually eager to eschew associations with the supernatural and fantastical, maybe are less inclined to gripe much about this place that puts aliens and magical shapeshifters on display. It’s an inevitable slide to appeal to the consumer.
Unfortunately, the setting and context leads visitors to think that these depictions are “accurate” (which they cannot be because we have no real specimens) and suggest that the beings really exist (some are undoubtedly hoaxes or misinterpretations). Every artistic depiction of a cryptid is potentially misleading because there is no reliable natural template; they have been embellished, sensationalized or exaggerated in each step along the way – from the observers perception and memory to the first sketches, the retellings, and then the model’s creation.
From this video showing a tour of the place, I can point out dozens of errors and stretching of the facts, with the Wendigo comments and depiction being appallingly wrong. The sideshow host acting is almost too much for me to take, but he did call Bigfoot the “top of the pops”. Indeed!
The staff reports this attraction is still growing, adding exhibits, and said they are happy to accept feedback. My response is that I could not have asked for a more perfect example of the new, whimsical, pop cryptid-oriented modern cryptozoology.
#cryptidMuseum #PopCryptid #wendigo -
Founded in 2019, Wright Family Films follow a production model that integrates their immediate family into every facet of the filmmaking process. This “family-unit” methodology results in a body of work that is distinctive for its thematic consistency, ideological rigidity, and frequent technical and narrative lapses.
#IndieFilm #FilmReview #Cinema #LowBudget #MovieReview #Wendigo #CivilWar #Horror #FaithBased #FilmCriticism
https://pablohoneyfish.wordpress.com/2026/03/01/the-wright-way-of-cinema-an-analytical-report-on-wright-family-films-and-the-aesthetics-of-micro-budget-christian-media/ -
Enjoy our Valentine's Day menu at the #Wendigo Cafe. Start with a hearty warming soup. The main is a choice of slow-roasted tenderheart or a rare true heart steak (if available).For an indulgent finish, have a slice of sweetheart pie (3.14 extra).
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The wendigo is one of the scariest creatures in Native American mythology, especially among the people who speak Algonquian and live in the northern woods. #wendigo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4MhxoTOV7Lo
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The wendigo is one of the scariest creatures in Native American mythology, especially among the people who speak Algonquian and live in the northern woods. #wendigo https://connectparanormal.net/2026/02/03/the-wendigo-and-the-frozen-heart-understanding-indigenous-mythology-symbolism-and-cultural-significance/
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Are you willing to give up privilege for connection?
https://emotusoperandi.medium.com/the-wetiko-habitus-e016487325c6
#apocaloptimist #metacrisis #Wetiko #wendigo #wereallinthistogether -
Thorgal Saga - Wendigo - Corentin Rouge & Fred Duval
#ayearincomics #books #strip #comics #corentinrouge #thorgal #thorgalsaga #wendigo #fredduval
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Until Dawn (2025) Review
Putting the grind into Groundhog Day....
click link to read more.
#moviereview #untildawn #boglárkaheim #peterstormare #tiborszauervein #jiyoungyoo #belmontcameli #zsófiatemesvári #michaelcimino #ellarubin #lottalosten #adriennmész #maiamitchell #2025 #adamkocsis #thecraggus #adamzambryzcki #odessaazion #blogging #wendigo #mariannhermányi #willemvandervegt #untildawnreview #ádámbot #horror #davidfsandber
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In North America’s forests, enigmatic creatures like the Dogman, Bigfoot, and Wendigo inspire both fear and fascination. #Bigfoot #dogmen #wendigo https://youtu.be/Wthjt5Q5Foo?si=nfoV3qaUlHctDcG8
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Pop Cryptid Spectator #1
In this edition:
- What’s up with this project
- Pop Goes the Cryptid explainer
- r/cryptid aims to be inclusive
- New cryptid media
- Texas’ Chupacabra coaster
- Cryptozoology.com shuttered
Hello! Welcome to the first edition of the Pop Cryptid Spectator, my regular (hopefully) posting of observations and commentary on my current favorite personal project – watching the parade of “cryptids” in popular culture.
I recently recalled that when I was a kid, like 9 years old, I used to collect interesting things about whatever I was interested in at the time and send to my friends or just pretend to be running a newspaper. Here I am, still doing that decades later. It seems to be what I do.
My intent with this regular posting is, roughly:
- To highlight the fun ways legendary or dubious animals are showing up in modern media.
- To explore the expansion of cryptozoology from what was originally framed as a “science-based” endeavor to what is now a mass cultural phenomenon – a profusion of strange entities that are labeled “cryptids”.
- And, to share interesting news bits I find related to “hidden” or legendary creatures.
If you are looking for me to criticize Bigfoot believers, or to make fun of Hodag hunters, there will be none of that. I would suggest that might a.) lighten up because this is not a highly serious subject and, b.) stick around to just enjoy it, because the cryptid scene is crazy right now. It’s so diverse, creative, and complicated. It’s so much more than monster hunting or extinction guilt. Cryptids are a way to express personal and regional identity, attract tourism, inspire art, examine history, explore spiritual ideas, represent liminality and a sense of the “other”. I could go on and on. There is a lot to say. So I’m going to get started.
But, I feel I have to backtrack just a bit first.
Pop Goes the Cryptid
I put out an explainer presentation called Pop Goes the Cryptid a little while ago as part of the Virtual Folk Zoology conference hosted by researcher and data scientist, Floe Foxon. Check it out if you haven’t already. I reworked the presentation a little bit and put it up on my website, as well as re-recording it into a video for people who prefer that. The reaction has been interesting. I received comments by some respected colleagues that highlighted some hot button issues in the cryptozoo. My subsequent post noting these issues just fanned the flames. In short – there is a bifurcated view of the world of cryptozoology in more than one way. And each side can be broken into additional factions. It’s messy. The two opposing camps argue a lot.
First, there is the division between those with a scientific view of cryptozoology and those who embrace the paranormal and supernatural. Now, that is grossly oversimplifying it. I’ll may try to address that at some later time but I think you get the general idea.
There is also a more nuanced break between those who wish cryptozoology would return to a more scientific framework and those who say it never was scientific and might never be. And, that’s also is an oversimplification. You can take a look at my recent writings for more explanation on that dispute.
And, there is the evergreen argument about what does or doesn’t fit under the label of “cryptid”? What’s the definition? How should the word be used? The reasons for the bickering about labels and boundaries is very much under the umbrella of my Pop Cryptid framing. However, I’ll attempt to be neutral in this forum.
Alternative naming
Venturing into the latest goings-on, I begin with a specific dispute regarding the inclusion of two popular “cryptids”. The moderator of the cryptid subreddit has broached the sensitive topic of the use of two entity names that represent Native spiritual creatures. I’ll say them once, with apologies, to clarify. It is common to see Skinwalker and Wendigo referred to as “cryptids” in the broadest sense of being secretive or hidden creatures of dubious existence. They are in no way zoological animals to be named and collected, which is why many on the subreddit don’t think they should be mentioned at all. However, they are both extremely popular in media. The “what is a cryptid” question remains the core of contention. For now, the moderator is asking contributors to come up with alternative names for these two beings. The ’S’ word has already been substituted with options “flesh gait”, “flesh pedestrian” (which is objectively stupid) and “pale crawler” based on modern storytelling, not indigenous lore. The W creature doesn’t seem to have a ready substitution, and the floor is open to suggestions. If you are familiar with the legend of the cannibal monster with a heart of ice, you probably noticed how the modern depictions play fast and loose with the lore.
And they will continue to change because they are not physical things able to captured and measured, they can morph into whatever we need them to be.
New cryptid media
The venerable Adrian Shine has a new book out on sea creatures titled A Natural History of Sea Serpents. You certainly know him – he’s the exceptionally bearded scholar of Loch Ness legends. The book was out in the UK in October and is now available in US markets and looks like a worthy volume.
Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd are starring in a very bizarre-looking film featuring life-saving and life-threatening unicorns. In a setup that reminds me of Harry and the Henderson’s, they have a vehicular encounter with the magical creature. Death of a Unicorn is set to be released in the next few months.
Once again, we see how the line between cryptid and not-a-cryptid is more porous than a bad email spam filter. The title unicorn is labeled in at least in some media outlets as a cryptid even though it historically was not seen as such. However, in this case, it seems to literally be one.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio announced that it’s changing the branding of its Goliath roller coaster into that of the Chupacabra. The news release for the transformation includes mention of the chupa as a “Texas folklore legend”. Indeed! I was interested to see which version of the chupacabra they picked – the spiky alien kangaroo or the mangy vampire dog. Turns out they combined them both and added additional parts, embracing the chupacabra tradition of being a cultural shape-shifter representing any weird thing that looks scary.
Loss of an OG cryptid website
WordPress sent me a notice that I’ve been blogging for 18 years on that platform. But 25 years ago, there was cryptozoology.com. The site was registered in 1998, before some of you were even aware that the subject, or the internet, even existed. The site had articles about lots of popular creatures and stuck mostly to the zoological framing, as much as I can remember. I hadn’t visited in a while but, when looking for other cryptid forums online, I checked in. And it was gone. Shut down. This happened in (oops) November 2022! The domain name is still registered for the next several years. I have no clue as to what might happen to the site.
During those 25 years, the scene changed drastically. Most of the content on cryptids has shifted to Cryptid Wiki which includes more modern media and depiction of many new creatures that seem to appear or resurface from the past on a weekly basis.
Will the original .com site return all new and shiny? If it doesn’t, what a lost opportunity. However, the loss of this place on the web feeds into the Pop Cryptid trend very neatly. People don’t do an internet search for the word “cryptozoology” like they do for “cryptids”. The zoology part, while still guarded by the stalwart old-school gatekeepers, is completely overrun by the pop cryptid scene all over the web that deals in folk horror, AI and game-based creatures, cosplayers, DeviantArtists, and pokecryptids. Although a bit sad, it seems appropriate that cryptozoology.com would fade away at this time as a symbol of how things used to be.
For more on this trend from cryptozoology to cryptids, check out my post called “Cryptid” out-trends “cryptozoology”, which includes the Google trends data results comparing the two terms. There is a story being told there.
Pop Goes the Cryptid Facebook group
If you are still on Facebook, I have a page where I drop all the links I find to new cryptid content. Read them there first at facebook.com/Popcryptids
Here are some recent posts:
- Cryptid dogs subreddit r/crytpiddogs
- A Russian creature called the Witkes that may have been inspired by buried frozen mammoth carcasses
- A cryptid themed holiday bar that popped up in Wilmington, NC
- A cryptid themed band called Beach Creeper. Their surf rock content is creative and cover art is hilarious. Check them out on BandCamp.
That’s all wrap for the Pop Cryptid Spectator. I hope to be back soon to supply new observations from the world of mystery creatures.
Go to SharonAHill.com and click on Pop goes the Cryptid landing page. While you’re there, make sure you subscribe to all the posts – it’s always free and I don’t send annoying spam.
You can also email me with comments, suggestions or questions at Popcryptid(at)proton.me
Watch the video version of Pop Cryptid Spectator on my YouTube channel.
#1 #chupacabra #cryptid #Cryptozoology #deathOfAUnicorn #popCryptid #reddit #rollerCoaster #scientific #seaSerpents #Skinwalker #Wendigo
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Okay, I am not going to lie, this is very, very silly.
However, I LOVE that the State of Maryland dropped a whole page on the Natural Resources site about local cryptids.
Seriously, check it out here: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2024/10/04/marylands-cryptids-and-the-wildlife-that-may-have-inspired-them/
Love this resource.
#Maryland #DMV #Cryptids #Cryptid #Cryptozoology #Chessie #Goatman #Wendigo #Snallygaster
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Both Bigfoot and the Wendigo are interesting paranormal creatures of folklore that are mentioned in legend. #Bigfoot #wendigo https://bigfootbeat.blog/post/762503269419499520/bigfoot-or-wendigo
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Algonquian-speaking tribes in the northern regions of both the United States and Canada mention the Wendigo, a terrifying creature, in their folklore. #Wendigo https://connectparanormal.net/2024/09/04/wendigo-folklore-exploring-algonquian-tribes-terrifying-legend
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In the indigenous civilizations of North America, the Wendigo is a legendary creature that has a strong connection to the woods. #Wendigo https://connectparanormal.link/post/760234662062964736/wendigo-in-folklore
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If you like a touch of sci-fi, a splash of dystopia, a pinch of despair, and a teaspoon of horror, all served in six 4-minute dishes, I can wholeheartedly recommend these chapters of a series titled "A Thousand Suns" by Blackmilk Studios on YouTube. They may be short, but they will leave you wanting more. Much more.
They are thought producing, deep, beautiful, scary, immersive, and wonderful.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUYLgWkQZ39J61ykA_Jrknx8230GbnYvV (tracking removed).
#AmWatching #SciFi #BlackMilkStudios #YouTube #Dystopia #Horror #Wendigo #Future
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... walker in the woods ...
#wendigo #cryptid #haunted #paranormal #hauntedwoods #illustration #antlers #midjourney -
@BlackAzizAnansi
peanut butter, bacon, pickles, and mayonnaise make an ok sandwich #wendigo -
In LEGENDS IN THE HEIGHTS: Iyannough wasn't like that.
https://www.gocomics.com/legends-in-the-heights/2023/08/25
#serialized #comic #LegendsInTheHeights #MiddleGrade #MiddleSchool #Wendigo #LegendaryCreatures -
In LEGENDS IN THE HEIGHTS: Finally getting to play some CourtNite!!!
https://www.gocomics.com/legends-in-the-heights/2023/08/23
#serialized #comic #LegendsInTheHeights #MiddleGrade #MiddleSchool #VideoGames #CourtNite #Fortnite #NightCourt #Wendigo #LegendaryCreatures