In Navajo culture, a skin-walker (Navajo: yee naaldlooshii) is a type of harmful witch who has the ability to turn into, possess, or disguise themselves as an animal. The term is never used for healers.
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In the Navajo language, yee naaldlooshii translates to “by means of it, it goes on all fours”. While perhaps the most common variety seen in horror fiction by non-Navajo people, the yee naaldlooshii is one of several varieties of Navajo witch, specifically a type of ‘ánti’įhnii.
The legend of the skin-walkers is not well understood outside of Navajo culture, mostly due to reluctance to discuss the subject with outsiders. Navajo people are reluctant to reveal skin-walker lore to non-Navajos, or to discuss it at all among those they do not trust.
3 Responses to “Skinwalkers: The Evil Navajo Shapeshifters”
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Duke S
Interesting
Mary D
Reluctant to talk about it? Well, I was babysitting a little 9-year-old Navajo girl for a while (her grandfather was even in the tribal police.) We live about 2 hours north of the rez and this child had never grown up there, except to spend time with her grandparents. One evening, she was going on and on about skinwalkers until my husband was completely freaked out. (My husband is Polynesian and his folk have their own weird superstitions.) It took my husband a couple of days to work up the courage to go outside at night. I kind of thought it was funny–humans turning into coyotes? Really?
Letty
Thanks for sharing. I find Native American history and folklore fascinating. Whether its true or not. I am open to all possibilities.