Lore Legends 67: Northern Exposure
Nov 24, 2025
Dive into chilling tales that defy expectations, like the murder of Louis-Étienne Dodier and the haunting legend of La Corriveau. Discover the dark legacy of witchcraft in New France, including the tragic trial of Daniel Vuel, the only witch execution in Canada. Learn about supernatural beliefs fueled by trauma among the Kaska people and the fascinating story of Maggie Pollock, whose clairvoyance led to her arrest under anti-witchcraft laws. This podcast unravels myths, legends, and the cultural contexts that shaped them.
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The Tragic Story Of La Corriveau
- Marie-Joseph Corriveau was convicted after Louis-Étienne Dodier's death and her father initially confessed to the crime to save her.
- She was executed, displayed in an iron gibbet, later exhibited and mythologized into the witch figure La Corriveau.
How Exhibition Fuels Mythmaking
- P.T. Barnum exhibited Corriveau's gibbet and her story transformed into sensational myth once shown abroad.
- The real abused woman became a monstrous witch in popular imagination over time.
A 20th-Century Witch Killing
- In 1923 an 18-year-old named Atoll was tied on the ice and left to die after being accused of bewitching an elder.
- The Kaska brothers and Big Alec carried out the act, leading to a sensational 1925 trial revealing widespread 'witch-fear.'