A skin-walker is a shapeshifter in Native American folklore, similar to a werewolf, who can transform into any animal. They are dangerous witches who wear animal skins and can only be defeated by discovering their human identity or using magical protection.
A skin-walker is a legendary creature in some Native American cultures that is somewhat analogous to the European werewolf. Like the werewolf, he is a shapeshifter, sometimes human and other times assuming the guise of an animal, usually at night. In its animal form, the creature can be just about anything, including a wolf, coyote, fox, bear, owl, or crow. While skin-walkers may have a favorite form that they routinely use, they have the power to become anything they desire. While the creature is primarily known from Navajo folklore, similarities exist in the mythology of other tribes, including the Mohawk, Hopi, and Aztec.
In the Navajo tradition, the skin-walker or yee naaldlooshii is a human who gained his powers through sorcery. They are scary, dangerous and hard to kill. Witches gain their power by violating a taboo and generally use it to harm others, so they are considered something of a monster.
In animal form, a skin-walker is very fast and impossible to catch. Sometimes he transforms into animals simply for the purpose of quickly traveling great distances. These creatures can also transform to wreak havoc on others, as their identities will be concealed and they will be able to flee quickly if need be. Both humans and animals can easily distinguish a skin walker from a real animal, as it is unable to move completely naturally in animal form.
A skin walker typically wears the skin of the animal it will transform into, usually with no other clothing. Because of their association with such creatures, wild animal skins are taboo in Navajo culture and are rarely seen. A skin-walker can only be defeated if his human identity can be discovered. This is possible if he is traced to his home or, in some stories, if one is injured and the same injury is later noticed on a human being.
While it’s nearly impossible to kill a skin-walker in human form, there are magical ways to protect yourself and even kill them. Traditional faith healers may perform ceremonies to protect people from the creature’s danger, or a person who goes out at night may cover their body in corn pollen, cedar ash, or juniper berries. If a person discovers the creature’s human identity, he can kill the witch by saying, “(Name), you are a skin walker.”
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