Introduction
“Wetiko” (or windigo) is a concept from Algonquian folklore—an evil, cannibalistic spirit said to possess and corrupt the hearts of men, driving them to greed, cruelty, and self-destruction. In recent years, writers and psychologists have recast Wetiko as a powerful metaphor for the contagious, soul-rotting pathology at the core of modern society: consumerism, addiction, and violence as a spiritual disease.
Origins
The original Windigo was a monster that haunted winter forests, preying on the desperate and hungry. Modern interpretations see Wetiko not as a creature, but as a psychic infection—a mind virus that spreads among groups and cultures, distorting values and turning people into “spiritual cannibals.”
Theories and Interpretations
- Mind Virus: Paul Levy and others argue that Wetiko acts like a memetic disease, warping perception and empathy.
- Colonial Legacy: Some Indigenous activists see Wetiko as a metaphor for the violence of colonialism and capitalism.
- Psychological Shadow: Jungian analysts interpret Wetiko as the “collective shadow” of humanity—our capacity for evil, denial, and projection.
Key Examples
- Paul Levy’s books and essays about Wetiko as a psycho-spiritual pandemic.
- Windigo legends from Native American folklore and their echoes in horror fiction.
- The use of “Wetiko” in anti-capitalist and ecological movements.
Critical Analysis
Wetiko is both an ancient ghost story and a hypermodern critique of society. Whether real or not, it’s a lens to examine what “possesses” us, as individuals and cultures.