In Navajo culture, a skin-walker, known in the Navajo language as yee naaldlooshii, is a type of harmful witch described as having the ability to turn into, possess or disguise themselves as an animal. The figure belongs to a broader category of witchcraft within traditional Navajo belief, and it is generally treated within the culture as a subject discussed with caution rather than openly, since detailed or careless discussion of witchcraft is itself considered by tradition to invite harm.
Facts
Browse and compare
Disposition Toward People Connections
Attested in Region
Belongs to Tradition
Related To
Nahual, Mythical Creatures Why this is disputed. Comparative folklore scholarship groups the Navajo skinwalker (yee naaldlooshii) and the Mesoamerican nahual together as shapeshifting-witch figures, but this is a comparison across distinct Indigenous traditions, not a claim of shared origin.
Sources
1. Skin-walker (Wikipedia)
Lead sectionQuote, Lead section
In Navajo culture, a skin-walker (Navajo: yee naaldlooshii) or skinwalker is a type of harmful witch who has the ability to turn into, possess, or disguise themselves as an animal.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.