yee naaldlooshii
(He goes on all fours)
A
skin-walker is a person with the supernatural ability to
turn into any animal he or she desires.
Although it is most frequently seen as a coyote, wolf,
owl, fox, or crow, the yee naaldlooshii is said to have the power
to assume the form of any animal they choose, depending on what
kind of abilities they need. Witches use the form for expedient
travel, especially to the Navajo equivalent of the Black Mass a
perverted song (and the central rite of the Witchery Way) used to
curse instead of to heal. They also may transform to escape from
pursuers.
Some Navajo believe that skinwalkers have the ability
to steal the "skin" or body of a person. The Navajo believe that if
you lock eyes with a skinwalker they can absorb themselves into
your body. It is also said that skinwalkers avoid the light and
that their eyes glow like an animal's when in human form and when
in animal form their eyes do not glow as an animal's
would.
A
skinwalker is usually described as naked, except for an animal
skin. Some Navajos describe them as a mutated version of the animal
in question. The skin may just be a mask, like those which are the
only garment worn in the witches' song.
Because animal skins are used primarily by
skinwalkers, the pelt of animals such as bears, coyotes, wolves,
and cougars are strictly tabooed. Sheepskin and buckskin are
probably two of the few hides used by Navajos; the latter is used
only for ceremonial purposes.
Often, Navajos will tell of their encounter with a
skinwalker, though there is a lot of hesitancy to reveal the story
to non-Navajos, or (understandably) to talk of such frightening
things at night. Sometimes the skinwalker will try to break into
the house and attack the people inside, and will often bang on the
walls of the house, knock on the windows, and climb onto the roof.
Sometimes, a strange, animal-like figure is seen standing outside
the window, peering in. The skinwalkers are described as being
fast, agile, and impossible to catch. Though some attempts have
been made to shoot or kill one, they are not usually successful.
Sometimes a skinwalker will be tracked down, only to lead to the
house of someone known to the tracker. As in European werewolf
lore, sometimes a wounded skinwalker will escape, only to have
someone turn up later with a similar wound which reveals them to be
the witch. It is said that if a Navajo was to know the person
behind the skinwalker they had to pronounce the full name, and
about three days later that person would either get sick or die for
the wrong that they have committed.
Legend has it, skinwalkers can have the power to read
human thoughts. They also possess the ability to make any human or
animal noise they choose. A skinwalker may use the voice of a
relative or the cry of an infant to lure victims out of the safety
of their homes.
Skinwalkers use charms to instill fear and control in
their victims. Such charms include human bone beads launched by
blowguns, which imbed themselves beneath the surface of the skin
without leaving a mark, and human bone dust which can cause
paralysis and heart failure. Skinwalkers have been known to find
traces of their victim's hair, wrap it around a pot shard, and
place it into a tarantula hole. Even live rattlesnakes are known to
be used as charms by the skinwalker.
According to Navajo myth, the only way to successfully
shoot a skinwalker is to dip bullets into white ash. Often times
people attempting to shoot a skinwalker find their weapon jamming
or frozen. Other times the rounds fire but have no
effect.
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Time: February 27, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Location: Seaton Trail Parking Lot (Posted
Coordinates)
This is
not your typical meet and greet event. There is no pub or
indoor facility at the posted location. No washrooms.
Nearer the event, I will post coordinates for a nearby restaurant
that cachers may chose to congregate at prior to this
event.
The
purpose of this event is to experience and enjoy winter night
hiking.
Under the guiding light of the Full Moon of the
Hoop and Stick Game, we will be hiking the southern portion of the
Seaton Trail from the posted coordinates, south to the Southern
Terminus of the Seaton Trail at N43 51.828 W79
05.911. Before the hike, we will arrange for some
cachers to park their cars at the southern terminus so we can ferry
people back to the start.
Along the way, only the future can say what form
of skinwalkers we may encounter.
This is a family and dog friendly
event.
Update - February 24, 2009
The trails are very slippery. Everyone is
encouraged to bring treking poles and wear Yaktrax or other
gripping footwear.
The hike will take us 3 km along several terrain changes
and scenic lookouts ending with the finding of a BFL style Wherigo
that will be published in time for the event. Once we
find the cache, trekkers can chose to return the 3 km along the
same trail to the north parking or continue another 1 km south to
the south parking. Everyone is encouraged to buddy up
with another cacher and leave a vehicle at the south
parking.
Some of us will be meeting for wings at Wild Wings, 70 Copper Creek Drive,
Markham (Box Grove). N 43 52.035 W 079 13.694. We will be
there shortly after 5. Seating is
limited.
Warning: While
I have made this event dog friendly, please note that the area is
frequented by coyotes. I strongly urge you to leave small
dogs at home.