Skinwalker (mythology)
Skinwalkers are mythological figures in Navajo culture, regarded as dangerous witches capable of shape-shifting into animals. Known as yee naaldlooshii, meaning "with it, he goes on all fours," these beings are believed to harness dark forces for malevolent purposes. Within a broader cultural context that includes various Native American tribes, such as the Apache and Hopi, skinwalkers are seen as the epitome of harmful witchcraft, contrasting with medicine men who use their spiritual knowledge for healing. To become a skinwalker, an individual must undergo a secret initiation that requires them to kill a close family member, thereby acquiring their supernatural abilities.
Skinwalkers can assume the forms of various animals, such as bears or coyotes, depending on the traits they wish to utilize, and possess powers that allow them to influence others, invoke illness, or even reanimate the dead. They often instill fear within communities, leading to cultural taboos against wearing the pelts of predatory animals. The lore surrounding skinwalkers includes reports of eerie behaviors, such as tapping on windows or making strange noises, further embedding them in the collective consciousness as figures of dread. The historical response to fear of skinwalkers was significant, culminating in events like the Navajo Witch Purge of 1878, where suspected witches faced severe consequences.
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Skinwalker (mythology)
Skinwalkers are mythological creatures in Native American lore. In the Navajo culture, a skinwalker is a form of witch that can possess an animal or change its shape to look like an animal. The Navajo call this witch yee naaldlooshii, which translates to “with it, he goes on all fours.” Skinwalkers are out to do others harm, and are regarded as the most dangerous type of witches. Witches are not seen as supernatural beings; rather, they harness the power of evil. The Navajo are part of a larger culture that includes the Apache, Hopi, Pueblo, Ute, and other peoples.
Overview
Witchcraft is part of Navajo spirituality and has a long history in their culture and traditions. The Navajo believe powers of good and evil can be utilized by practitioners who have learned their ways. Those who use these spiritual forces for good, to heal and help individuals in the community, are known as medicine men. Those who use the power to hurt others are called witches. They follow the Witchery Way and are believed to use human corpses to achieve their aims. They may use human bones to make tools, or use parts of the bodies to make potions to curse, hurt, or kill others.
Most witches are males, but can also be females. In some stories, witches began as healers or spiritual guides who helped others, but eventually used their power for evil purposes. The initiation rite to become a skinwalker is conducted by a secret group. To gain the supernatural powers needed to shift shape to animal forms, the witch must kill a close family member, preferably a sibling.
Skinwalkers usually appear as bears, cougars, coyotes, dogs, foxes, or wolves, but can take any animal’s shape. They choose their shape based on the abilities they need, such as claws, stealth, speed, strength, and teeth, and may transform into another animal if they need to elude pursuit. These witches have other powers as well. They can hold others in their power by locking eyes with victims, and can then force them to do the witch’s bidding. They can read minds and can use their magic to cause illness, death, or destroy property. Skinwalkers can control nocturnal creatures such as owls and wolves, call up the spirits of the dead, and reanimate corpses.
They are called skinwalkers because they wear the skins of the animals they transform into. For this reason, it is taboo in the Navajo culture to wear the pelt of any predatory animal. Skinwalkers may also wear animal skulls or antlers on their heads to gain more power.
Skinwalkers often rap on windows and doors of homes, or make scraping noises. In their human form, they have eyes that look like animal eyes, while in animal form, their eyes look human. They walk among the people by day, but transform at night. People who have seen skinwalkers say they look both human and animal-like at the same time. They may be naked or wearing beaded jewelry; sometimes they wear the tattered remnants of clothing. Because they cause harm and mischief, skinwalkers are often blamed for troubles. Fear of them led to the Navajo Witch Purge of 1878, in which forty suspected witches were killed.
Bibliography
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