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THE WINDIGO DANCERS
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Among the Plains Ojibwa, the Windigokan is a ceremonial clown, who acts in a contrary manner. The name of this personage derives from the Windigo, a mythic cannibal giant with an ice heart, which is found in the mythology of most of the peoples of the Algonquian linguistic stock in the Northeast. The Windigo Dancer is furthermore associated with the Thunder Spirit, in a similar way as the heyoka of the Lakota, who obtains his role of ceremonial buffoon from a vision of the Thunder. The Widigokan dancers formed a sacred society, which assembled all the individuals who had a visionary experience of the Thunder Spirit.

 

Danzatori Windigo

 

Group of Plains Ojibwa Windigokan dancers (during a Sun Dance in 2014)


Windigo  

 

They wear masks, with the typical long hanging nose, a costume mad of rags and in several occasion behave in a way contrary to the norm, especially during the main ceremonies, like the Sun Dance. In certain groups, the Windigo dancers association includes a character  known as the “hunter”, distinguishable by a prominent humpback and holding crooked bow and arrows in his hands, weapons which cannot be used effectively. The ritual clowns are particularly known for their curing abilities, as well as for their joking and disrespectful attitudes. In recent years, their participation in the Sun Dance ceremony has progressively intensified (Hirschfelder-Molin 1992: p. 326).

 

Windigokan mask with typical long nose (from a private collection)

 

 

 
 
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