skin-walker
Navajo animal transformer
A skin-walker is a malevolent shape-shifter in Navajo folklore—a witch who can transform into animals, typically by wearing their pelts.
The concept has spread into broader horror fiction and internet creepypasta, where skin-walkers are sinister entities that mimic humans or animals: We heard something in the woods that sounded almost human—skin-walker territory.
In Navajo tradition, speaking of skin-walkers is considered dangerous and is often avoided.
Invoked harm through words
- dark magicMalevolent supernatural practice
- witchPractitioner of dark arts
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- cannibalismIntraspecies flesh consumption
evil intent · victim · attack · stalking · tormenting · sickness · death · desecration
Sovereign tribal territory, Southwest US
- medicine manTraditional indigenous healer
- hoganNative American earth dwelling
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
- tribal elderSenior community authority figure
ceremony · chant · sandpainting · sage · Four Corners · Southwest · taboo · protection ritual
Independent existing thing
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
eerie · ominous · encounter · sighting · unexplained · cryptid · night creature · inhuman
Unverified traditional tale
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
- campfire storyTale told outdoors at night
- cautionary taleStory illustrating consequences
- tribal loreA group's traditional knowledge
storytelling · ethnography · belief system · cultural taboo · sacred knowledge · testimony
Thorough change in form
- wolfWild pack canine
- coyoteWild North American canid
- owlNocturnal feathered predator
- crowLarge black corvid
bear · cougar · fox · pelt · animal skin · four-legged · glowing eyes · mimicry
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
goosebumps · shudder · unspeakable · avoidance · silence · warning signs · isolation · vulnerability
curse
Invoked harm through words
- dark magicMalevolent supernatural practice
- witchPractitioner of dark arts
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
cannibalism · evil intent · victim · attack · stalking · tormenting · sickness · death · desecration · forbidden knowledge
Navajo Nation
Sovereign tribal territory, Southwest US
- medicine manTraditional indigenous healer
- hoganNative American earth dwelling
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
tribal elder · ceremony · chant · sandpainting · sage · Four Corners · Southwest · taboo · protection ritual · cedar smoke
entity
Independent existing thing
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
haunting · eerie · ominous · encounter · sighting · unexplained · cryptid · night creature · inhuman · spirit
legend
Unverified traditional tale
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
- campfire storyTale told outdoors at night
- cautionary taleStory illustrating consequences
tribal lore · storytelling · ethnography · belief system · cultural taboo · sacred knowledge · testimony
transformation
Thorough change in form
crow · bear · cougar · fox · pelt · animal skin · four-legged · glowing eyes · mimicry · human voice
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
panic · goosebumps · shudder · unspeakable · avoidance · silence · warning signs · isolation · vulnerability · primal fear
- magical transformationshapeshifting, metamorphosis, polymorph, transfiguration, transmogrification
- Native Folklorecreation myth, creation story, thunderbird, windigo, spirit animal
- shapeshifterswerewolf, shape-shifting, lycanthrope, doppelganger, werebear
skin-walkerguardian spirit
Protective supernatural being
protective spirit · angel · spirit guide · kachina · saint
skin-walkermedicine man
Traditional indigenous healer
traditional healer · healer · singer · shaman · holy man
skin-walkerwerewolf
Shapeshifting wolf-person
lycanthrope · berserker · selkie · kitsune · shapeshifter