Dig

Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.F.A.

Degree Program

Creative Writing

Department

English

Major Professor

M. O. Walsh

Second Advisor

Joanna Leake

Third Advisor

Juyanne James

Abstract

This novella reimagines the Windigo legend through the perspective of Ricky, a queer teenage Chippewa boy living in northern Minnesota in 2005. Unbeknownst to their community, Ricky’s father has been committing a series of murders. When Ricky’s mother goes missing, he is forced to confront the reality behind his father’s long-buried lies. As his best friend becomes entangled in the situation, Ricky must navigate fear, loyalty, and suspicion, ultimately facing the truth about his father and the possibility of inheriting his violence.

Dig explores themes of intergenerational trauma, the psychology of serial murder, and the lasting effects of Indigenous assimilation, with particular attention to how identity shapes vulnerability and survival. Engaging with elements of crime fiction, the work examines questions of collective memory, identity, and the transmission of violence across generations.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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Available for download on Wednesday, April 23, 2031

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