- Background
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 skin-walkers in Navajo culture; specifically, they are a type of 'ánti'įhnii.
Navajo witches, including skin-walkers, represent the antithesis of Navajo cultural values. While community healers and cultural workers are known as medicine men and women, or by other positive nurturing terms in the local indigenous language, witches are seen as evil, performing twisted ceremonies and manipulating magic in a perversion of the good works medicine people traditionally perform. In order to practice their good works, traditional healers learn about both good and evil magic. Most can handle the responsibility, but some people can become corrupt and choose to become witches.
The legend of the skin-walkers is not well understood outside of Navajo culture, mostly due to reluctance to discuss the subject with outsiders. Traditional Navajo people are reluctant to reveal skin-walker lore to non-Navajos, or to discuss it at all among those they do not trust.
Adrienne Keene, Cherokee Nation activist and founder of the blog Native Appropriations, has written, "What happens when Rowling pulls this in, is we as Native people are now opened up to a barrage of questions about these beliefs and traditions...but these are not things that need or should be discussed by outsiders. At all. I'm sorry if that seems 'unfair', but that's how our cultures survive."
- *My Opinion
Although I can certainly understand the tribal reluctance to communicate the intricacies of their belief with people outside their tribe, the fact is that skin-walkers are considered dangerous, and in theory anyone could fall prey to them, even someone outside the native culture. In my opinion, demons and other evil entities don't abide by our man-made boundaries, either physical or cultural. Everyone should be aware of the dangers out there (spiritual, as well as physical) in order to better protect themselves.
- The Legend
Skin-walker stories told among Navajo children may be complete life and death struggles that end in either skin-walker or Navajo killing the other, or partial encounter stories that end in a stalemate. Encounter stories may be composed as Navajo victory stories, with the skin-walkers approaching a hogan and being scared away.
Non-Native interpretations of skin-walker stories typically take the form of partial encounter stories on the road, where the protagonist is temporarily vulnerable, but then escapes from the skin-walker in a way not traditionally seen in Navajo stories. Sometimes Navajo children take European folk stories and substitute skin-walkers for generic killers like The Hook.
- Skin-walker Ranch
But the family’s most distressing encounter occurred one night just 18 months after moving onto the ranch. Terry Sherman, the father of the family, was walking his dogs around the ranch late at night when he encountered a wolf. But this was no ordinary wolf. It was perhaps three times bigger than a normal one, had glowing red eyes, and stood unfazed by three close-range shots Sherman blasted into its hide.
Terry and Gwen Sherman sold the so-called Skin-walker Ranch in 1996 — after only having owned it for 18 months. It’s been used as a research hub for the paranormal ever since.
- 14 Creepy Facts About Skin-walkers
1. A skin-walker is a person with the ability to transform into any different type of animal at will.
2. They are most frequently seen as coyotes, wolves, foxes, eagles, owls or crows.
3. Some can also “steal” the faces of different people, and could appear as someone you know.
4. If you accidentally lock eyes with a skin-walker, they can “absorb” themselves into your body and take control of your actions.
5. Rare skin-walkers can also have the ability to enchant the powder of corpses and use the substance as a poison dust on victims.
6. The legend of the skin-walkers originates from the Navajo, a south-western Native American tribe.
7. In the Navajo language, the word “skin-walker” is yee naagloshii and translates to “he who walks on all fours.”
8. Skin-walkers have only entered the public discourse relatively recently compared to other phenomenon. In 1996, a team of scientists ventured to a Utah ranch to investigate a series of bizarre phenomenon.
9. If their other powers weren’t enough, Skin-walkers are also said to be able to run incredibly long distances — some say over 200 miles in one evening.
10. Skin-walkers have a tendency to hang around graveyards, and can dig up graves at an impossibly fast speed.
13. With all of their advantages, it is said that you can kill a skin-walker if you call them by their true (human) name.
14. Skin-walkers are most commonly encountered near native reservations, though they have been seen all over the United States (Skinwalker ranch in Utah is the most famous. Some people believe the “Rake” which is commonly encountered in the northeast is similar to a skin-walker.
- A family's Personal Experience
Me and my family believe we are being stalked, hunted, haunted, teased by one or more skin walkers. This has been going on for years on and off. We live on a farm and these entities are making more frequent appearances than ever as of late.
My kids are scared as they've seen it several times as well as myself and my husband. We've even believed there to be one indoors from time to time. The glimpses I've seen at first glance appear to be a naked human and it moves with extreme speed, faster than I'm able to keep an eye on. It peeks around corners of the outside of the house at my kids, makes human and animal cries at night. It's terrifying. We've found doors unlocked and left open at night and when we investigate we catch a glimpse of it. Garage doors too-garage doors that no one ever opens mind you. There's no explanation for it.
Living on a farm we are used to the sounds of coyotes howling, barking and different animals of prey screaming when attacked. The screams of what we're hearing lately are not the same sounds of coyote attacks… these are screams that sound human and blood curdling cries. I've never heard anything like it before.
I don't know if there is something that can be done to keep them at bay… I believe many of these evil entities come in and out of our dimension but I'd love to keep them out if it's possible.
Skin-walker Ranch Paranormal Investigation in Real Life
COAST TO COAST AM -March 29 2020 - Skinwalker Ranch Secrets
Skin-walker Lore Explained
5 Allegedly True SCARY Skin-walker Encounter Stories | Cryptid Horror Stories (MrCreepyPasta)
- *MY OPINION
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