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VICTIM OF SUPERSTITIONHeads of Indian Tribe Strangled Squaw as Sacrifice to Secure BetterHunting.Ottawa, Aug. 7.—Joseph and Jack Fidler, the chief and medicine man of the Sandy Lake Crees, are under arrest at Norway House on the charge of murdering a squaw.The woman, who is of the same name and blood as the two prisoners, fell sick in the spring and became delirious. The Indians of this district believe that when a sick person becomes delirious a spirit or “Wendigo’' has entered them, and that if the person dies naturally the Wendigo escapes to the woods, pursues and frightens away the game, and famine follows. Therefore the band assembled, and, according to the custom, appointed their chief and medicine man to-the high honor of choking the sick squaw, that the spirit might not escape with the passing of breath, but might remain imprisoned in the dead body. In the presence of the band the chief and the medicine man carried out the instructions. A piece of canvas was placed about the squaw's neck and the? the noose of a rope. This being tightened by the two leaders of the band, the ravings of the woman were stopped, the evil spirit was imprisoned and the game preserved. This piece of barbarism was executed within 200 miles of Kenora. Word of it reached the authorities and the arrests followed.The Fidlers asked the officials not to be too severe with them, as they had no idea that they were doing wrong. They were merely doing their duty by the band and following the custom of their fathers. The execution of this duty was a high honor, and, according to custom, the executioners were hand somely fed by the parents of the victim.The justice department is to decide whether it will be better to send a judge to Norway House to try the case or bring the prisoners and witnesses to Edmonton for trial.
Newspaper Details
Nelson Daily Canadian
Nelson, British Columbia, CA
Wed, Aug 07, 1907
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 14 Apr 2020
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