Gatekeeper
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Among the native tribes in Canada, legends are told of a supernatural monster with claws and fangs roaming the woods with an endless hunger for human flesh. They called it Windigo. Many feared this creature greatly, believing it could also possess a person turning them into cannibals with no hope of being saved.
Like you, I was not even aware to the Windigo’s existence until someone told me about the myth which was a long time ago. This happened one night during a visit with my friend, Johns Wanamaker who was living with his grandfather on the local reserve.
That evening John, his grandfather and me were sitting around a fire while waiting for my parents to pick me up. John suggested on telling ghost stories to pass the time. I was never a very good story telling, but tried the classic urban legend of “found the hook on car” with John’s review of it being “Yawn”. I challenge him if he could do better, yet he shrugged and claimed not to know of any to share at the moment. John asked his grandfather if he knew of any good stories. John grandfather told us to come closer to him by the fire. He began with “There are many tales told among our people and and one such story is the Windigo. “
We drew closer to the grandfather, as he continued, “Before the Europeans came, before our people walked on this land, the first race lived here. They were giants. When our people came, they were befriended by the first race, yet over time they enslaved our ancestors. They were worked, tortured, even preyed upon as food. Many years our people called to Great Spirit for help. The Great Spirit came and was enraged for what the first race did to our people, their bodies were destroyed.
They were condemned to forever wonder the land as spirits. Some disappeared into the earth, others retreated deep into the woods, but there was a few that were angered to what befall upon them and sworn revenge on our people. They possessed the animals and turned them into monsters that terrorized the land. The strongest of the spirits were able to inhabit people turning them into Windigo. These souls were damned to crave and eat the flesh of human. When the Europeans came, they were warned but never did listen. There were many disappearances and many mysterious deaths. But over time, the killings stopped. Some believed the Windigo had gone to sleep, others hoped it was defeated, but to most like the Europeans was nothing more than a legend.
Now and again, a person goes missing or a body found to be killed by an animal, are just reminders to all that the Windigo is still here walking among us.”
As the fire started to die out, John was asked to get some more wood by his grandfather. He then turned to look at me with a smile. In that second, his eye’s appeared odd. I would swear I was staring into the gaze of a snake. The sound of a car horn drew our attention to the driveway, as my parent had arrived to take me back home. When I turned to John’s grandfather, his eye’s were normal. Stunned and confused he pointed over to car and said with a smirk, “Best be going before the Windigo comes.”
I run over to the car and got in. That night, I could not sleep trying to make sense of what I say. After a few days, I forgotten the situation. Several months later, my family had to move after my father found a new job out of state. John and I tried to keep in touch over the years, but eventually grew apart and lost contact. I have not seen or heard from him in nearly 20 years, until now.
You see, the only reason why I told you about the legend and shared some of my childhood memories is so you could understand and believe what I am about to say. I only now recall the night with John, his grandfather and me from watching the news a few days ago. The broadcast was reporting the capture of serial killer believed to have murder and cannibalize over 30 people. The name mentioned was John Wanamaker as I watched him being escorted by FBI in handcuffs to prison. In a spit second, I swear when he looked towards the camera his eye’s appeared like those of his grandfather from that night.
Like you, I was not even aware to the Windigo’s existence until someone told me about the myth which was a long time ago. This happened one night during a visit with my friend, Johns Wanamaker who was living with his grandfather on the local reserve.
That evening John, his grandfather and me were sitting around a fire while waiting for my parents to pick me up. John suggested on telling ghost stories to pass the time. I was never a very good story telling, but tried the classic urban legend of “found the hook on car” with John’s review of it being “Yawn”. I challenge him if he could do better, yet he shrugged and claimed not to know of any to share at the moment. John asked his grandfather if he knew of any good stories. John grandfather told us to come closer to him by the fire. He began with “There are many tales told among our people and and one such story is the Windigo. “
We drew closer to the grandfather, as he continued, “Before the Europeans came, before our people walked on this land, the first race lived here. They were giants. When our people came, they were befriended by the first race, yet over time they enslaved our ancestors. They were worked, tortured, even preyed upon as food. Many years our people called to Great Spirit for help. The Great Spirit came and was enraged for what the first race did to our people, their bodies were destroyed.
They were condemned to forever wonder the land as spirits. Some disappeared into the earth, others retreated deep into the woods, but there was a few that were angered to what befall upon them and sworn revenge on our people. They possessed the animals and turned them into monsters that terrorized the land. The strongest of the spirits were able to inhabit people turning them into Windigo. These souls were damned to crave and eat the flesh of human. When the Europeans came, they were warned but never did listen. There were many disappearances and many mysterious deaths. But over time, the killings stopped. Some believed the Windigo had gone to sleep, others hoped it was defeated, but to most like the Europeans was nothing more than a legend.
Now and again, a person goes missing or a body found to be killed by an animal, are just reminders to all that the Windigo is still here walking among us.”
As the fire started to die out, John was asked to get some more wood by his grandfather. He then turned to look at me with a smile. In that second, his eye’s appeared odd. I would swear I was staring into the gaze of a snake. The sound of a car horn drew our attention to the driveway, as my parent had arrived to take me back home. When I turned to John’s grandfather, his eye’s were normal. Stunned and confused he pointed over to car and said with a smirk, “Best be going before the Windigo comes.”
I run over to the car and got in. That night, I could not sleep trying to make sense of what I say. After a few days, I forgotten the situation. Several months later, my family had to move after my father found a new job out of state. John and I tried to keep in touch over the years, but eventually grew apart and lost contact. I have not seen or heard from him in nearly 20 years, until now.
You see, the only reason why I told you about the legend and shared some of my childhood memories is so you could understand and believe what I am about to say. I only now recall the night with John, his grandfather and me from watching the news a few days ago. The broadcast was reporting the capture of serial killer believed to have murder and cannibalize over 30 people. The name mentioned was John Wanamaker as I watched him being escorted by FBI in handcuffs to prison. In a spit second, I swear when he looked towards the camera his eye’s appeared like those of his grandfather from that night.