Native Americans have incredibly profound and fascinating beliefs, many of them involving wolves. To several tribes (past and present), the wolf itself is known as a protective spirit or totem. They view the wolf as a wise fellow hunter to be respected and admired.
In spite of what some Twilight fans think, Stephenie Meyer wasn’t the one that came up with Native American werewolves, no, I’m afraid that is a very old belief that many tribes have. Since Twilight is causing a stir of interest in Native American lore and beliefs -especially with the second movie, New Moon coming out soon which has much more of Jacob Black and the rest of the wolves involved- we’ll shed some light on the subject.
Quite a few Native American tribes are familiar with the idea of a man transforming from man to beast. The belief is known in many tribes including the Mohawk (whose territories once covered upstate New York to southern Quebec) where those that could shift were known as limmikin (sometimes yenaloosi) but it is the Novajo tribe that is best known for its shifter beliefs. These shifters are called skinwalkers, the Navajo word for such people is yeenadlooshi, which means “he goes on all fours.”
According to Navajo tradition skinwalkers will even look physically different from normal people – the main difference being their eyes, which are large and glowing, even in daylight. It is thought that if someone looks a skinwalker in the eyes they can absorb a person and “steal their skin.” So it goes without saying that someone should avoid looking anyone suspected of being a skinwalker in the eyes. They were also believed to have no genitals and their skin was supposedly rock hard, making it impervious to axes and arrows.
In some versions of the tradition the skinwalker’s tongue would be black, proof that their soul was poison. It was also believed that becoming a skinwalker was caused by dark forces, a person that becomes one was believed to have done something immoral to attract that darkness. Also, a skinwalker didn’t take just one form, they took many, such as owls, crows, coyotes, but one of the most common forms was wolf. While in animal form they lost all trace of humanity, the beast and animal instincts took over, making them vicious and unpredictable. This was only one version though, another is that while in animal form they were actually much more intelligent. They were also able to read minds and could lure people out of their homes and into the woods by imitating the voices and cries of loved ones.
Then there are the Hopi Indian traditions where shapeshifting is brought on by a special ceremony known as Ya-Ya. The details on this ceremony are extremely secret and well-protected but it is thought to involve wearing the skin of the animal one wishes to become.
And there you have it, one small look into the very expansive collection of Native American traditions and beliefs.
- Moonlight
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this has alot info in it
my great grandmother told my dad that she saw her husband shapeshift into a wolf….i think he was a cherokee skin-walker….but i found this very interesting….
hey if u are only part cherokee do you still have a chance of being a skinwalker my eyes are always changing colers and what not i just really wanna know so do i
This is somewhat true. I am fully Native American from Dine (Navajo) and Lakota (Sioux).
And there are NOT only like two or three that believe this. There is actually a good amount of us that believe this. And back in the day we did not look at being a skinwalker as a bad thing. It was actually a good thing. No rock-hard skin, or black tongue. I don’t know where you got that from, but it’s wrong.
Somewhat of your stuff is correct though.
The information was taken from various books on the topic. There were countless Native American tribes and they all had their own myths and stories, so there isn’t one idea. Just because one tribe had a certain view on a topic doesn’t mean they all did. Therefore nothing is this post is wrong, some tribes believed it and some didn’t.
I am a Cherokee but, I still do Native activity with my cle-at clan tryouts! I believe when somewaht of your speech is true and the other is false! I mustn’t believe that this is true rather im only 11 years old but my rank is an eagle and the higher you go, you get a new sign on your arm called a flentograph? It isn’t made from the harmful substences the Americans’ produce today it is made of safe ink made from natural berries. I am the fastest runner in the clan, there’s alot of people in this clan and my clan leader does believe that you could shapeshift! You may only do this when your the highest rank! A wolf!
Are you a wolf or a werewolf..??
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lycanthropy or lycan. is all over the world. So may different beliefs in so many places. I myself< lakota..crow..cheyenne. as well as irish,scotts,and german. Each race has its beliefs. So no matter if your a skinwalker or a lycan We all at here to help each other.. me.. i wouldnt turn away a werewolf or human. If we all would get along, and see whats in the heart.. then there would be any hate, and people saying” well they have black tongues.. and glowing eyes” I myself was told when i get angry my eyes glowed, widened, and pupils get large. But doesnt everyones??
Hi i am very curious to these believes ..i am do have some native american in me but i do not know of what tribe…but thats not the issue..please i need to know as much as you would tell me about the skinwalkers…..please!
I am Cherokee, Amonsoquath Tribe, Powhatan Clan……I have been told a few stories of the skin walkers and belive that they do exist. My great grandparents were of the white skinwalkers. A hand full of us natives know of the whitewolf clan. Dose anyone else know of the Whitwolf clan? I would like to hear more of them.
I have read all of the comments that everyone left and it make me more certain that skin walkers are not just myths. I want to fined out as much as I can about skin walkers and the traditions that surround them. If at all possible I would like to talk to some one that has grown up around Native American culture and could give me some more insite.
well im half native american and i dont have a clue to what clan or tribe i am but i believe strongly to a person becoming a skinwalker. i mean it would be so cool, because a normal boring life,no id love to be a skinwalker but i have no idea of how to do it. if any body knows how reply please.
Im black and Native American and it shows more in from what people tell me. I do believe in the supernatural and if there are more than just skinwalkers, lycans, and lou garoux out there then the whole world should know about these unique beings.
i’m a little less then half native american, but take great pride with the bit that i have. i strongly believe in shapeshifters. i would REALY love to learn more about the shapeshifting wolves. must you build up to earn shapeshifting or is it posibble to just be born this way? please you would be helping me greatly.
why do u think that i think im one to but im not sure my eyes get really big when im mad and when im sad they also change colors alot i am part cherokee
i’m not shure how you tell if you are or not. my eyes turn gold when i’m angry or sad, but usually they’re green. i get strong urges to chase things. espacially deer and squirels. i’ve believed in these beings for so long. i’ve always felt that i was.
i am native american and i think i may be a skinwalker.!!!????
I am not native at all. My step-dad is Mohawk and so are my 4 younger siblings. we live on the reserve. All of the people there are extremely superstitious. I am not going to go ask them about there beliefs, but I do want to know. Some thing you see in the woods should not be there. This site was extremely helpful.
to shed some light. there is no good or bad wolf or skinwalker for that matter. it is the soul of the person that will show through. there are medicine men who can shift and move as an animal who can harbour all the senses and power of the animal but still retain who they are. then there are those with bad hearts they are the skinwalkers that are dipicted in most movies about navajos. I myself am not Dine. but i have many friends who are and i am native as well. and i am tired of hearing bad things about skinwalkers and wish to clear thier names.
not bad, im navajo, dineh 4rm the folded arm chiefs clan…warewolves r my thing they r bada** lol i have had my share of them, i seen them here and there on the navajo rez, my family and friends have the stories…but the things on this lil info r true, some may be 4rm other tribes but it is wat it is…
If anyone can help me I would be eternally grateful. I was about 20 at the time. It was late at night and me and my friends had backed in to a parking spot on the edge of the woods. I happen to look in my rearview mirror and saw a big animal running faster than I have ever seen. It was shaped like a wolf but bigger. It had glowing green eyes. I do not know what this was and have been searching for 15 yrs to the answer.