Swift Runner was a Cree hunter from Alberta who, during the brutal winter of 1878-79, committed an act of cannibalism, killing and consuming his wife and five children. He later claimed he had been possessed by the Wendigo—a supernatural entity in Algonquian folklore believed to drive people to madness and cannibalism. The Wendigo is said to embody insatiable hunger, preying on those who succumb to desperation, particularly in times of famine.
Anthropologists have linked Swift Runner’s case to Wendigo psychosis, a cultural phenomenon in which individuals experience an intense fear of turning into a Wendigo, sometimes leading them to commit acts of cannibalism. This condition has been documented among Indigenous groups in Canada, often emerging in extreme survival situations.
The case also reflects the impact of early colonialism on Indigenous cultures. By the late 19th century, European expansion had disrupted traditional ways of life, leading to food shortages, forced assimilation, and the erosion of spiritual beliefs. The Cree people, like many other Indigenous groups, faced immense hardship due to the loss of their land and resources. Some scholars argue that the psychological distress caused by colonial oppression may have contributed to cases like Swift Runner’s, where Indigenous individuals struggled with identity, survival, and cultural displacement.
Swift Runner was arrested, tried, and executed by hanging at Fort Saskatchewan in December 1879, marking one of the most infamous cases associated with Wendigo lore, psychosis, and the broader consequences of colonialism.
Sources:
https://archive.org/details/swiftrunner0000thom
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2357596
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.1086/202953
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38034155/
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1050&context=senior_theses
https://read.dukeupress.edu/ethnohistory/article-pdf/56/3/355/253996/EH056-03-01CarlsonFpp.pdf
https://rawvision.com/blogs/articles/articles-joe-colemans-swift-runner
https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/35660
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/law-and-history-review/article/heart-of-ice-indigenous-defendants-and-colonial-law-in-the-canadian-northwest/CE39FBA8DBF8C3E68C6A7CE537B8FD7C
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.