With its quick and catchy videos, TikTok is great for spreading stories about skinwalkers. People post about their supposed encounters and create art about them, creating a new kind of folklore that reaches far beyond the Navajo community.
The Origin of Skinwalkers
Rooted in Native American folklore
Skinwalkers come from Navajo stories and are a dark part of their traditions. They are called yee naaldlooshii in their language. These characters are evil witches who can turn into, take over, or look like animals. They get this power by breaking important cultural rules and doing secret, banned rituals.
People fear Skinwalkers not just because they can change shape but because they’re linked to death and mysteries. This isn’t just a scary story; it’s about right and wrong, respecting life, and the rules that keep society together.
Belief in witch-like creatures
Within the Navajo culture, skinwalkers, or yee naaldlooshii—which means “it goes on all fours”—come from a darker side of spiritual beliefs. These evil witches broke sacred rules to gain power to hurt others. Skinwalkers are not your usual witches; they’re known for being more evil and can scare people and mess with nature in harmful ways.
Shape-shifting abilities
@darkmooseman It Was Watching Them.. #creepy #paranormal #skinwalker #darkmoose#darkmooseman ♬ original sound – DarkMoose
Skinwalkers, or yee naaldlooshii, are a big deal in Navajo stories because they can change shape. They’re called ‘he who walks on all fours’ because they can turn into animals like wolves, owls, foxes, or crows.
This isn’t just about changing looks—they take on the abilities of these animals, which lets them sneak around unnoticed. People believe skinwalkers gain this power by breaking important cultural rules, and that’s why they’re seen as evil witches in Navajo traditions.
Associated with dark magic
Skinwalkers come from Navajo myths. They’re known as yee naaldlooshii, or ‘he who walks on all fours.’ These figures are witches who turn into skinwalkers by breaking culturally severe rules.
The change requires a dark ceremony that even includes hurting their own family. This lets them change shape into any animal, move fast, cast spells, and trick people into seeing things that aren’t real.
The Viral Trend on TikTok
@sherwinvalencia60################################################################################################################################################################## jumpscare ⚠️warning⚠️##skinwalker ♬ original sound – Sherwin
Videos of people hunting skinwalkers
There’s a new trend on TikTok. People are posting videos where they claim they’re hunting skinwalkers. They head out to isolated places at night, with cameras and sometimes even weapons, and try to find these mythical beings. You’ll see creepy sounds or supposed glimpses of creatures that look half-human, half-animal.
Critics aren’t happy. They say this trend takes a severe part of Navajo culture and turns it into entertainment. It could be dangerous for those out hunting, and it’s disrespectful to the belief in skinwalkers.
On the other hand, some people think it’s just a fun way to explore old legends and bring some excitement to their TikTok pages.
Popularity on social media
@dustinleefrazier Wtf. I thought it was my doordash… #fyp #trending #dustinfrazier#appalachia #appalachianfolklore #appalachian #appalachianmountains #horror #spooky#spook #creepy #horrortok #skinwalker #mimic #stalker #creep #creeper #stalked #ghost#paranormal #paranormalactivity #paranormaltiktok #paranormalvideos #creepyvideos ♬ original sound – DustinFrazier
It’s simple: these stories are mysterious and spooky, rooted in Native American folklore. People on TikTok love the thrill and horror that come with skinwalker stories, which drives them to share and make videos about it. The hashtag #Skinwalker has gotten over 600 million views. Users post videos claiming to show encounters or delve into the legend. This trend fits right into the broader interest in paranormal stuff on social media. People enjoy content that scares and entertains, making the skinwalker legend perfect for going viral.
Controversy and criticism
The skinwalker legend is popular on TikTok, but it’s causing quite a stir. Many Native American groups are upset because they feel these videos get it wrong and disrespect something very sacred in Navajo culture.
People like Dr. Adrienne Keene and Navajo writer Brian Young point out that these portrayals can strengthen stereotypes and mess up how people understand Indigenous beliefs. The way TikTok shows it, the legend seems more like a sensational story than a severe cultural symbol. It turns something significant to the Navajo into another form of entertainment for everyone else.
Conclusion
Skinwalkers are catching on TikTok, and it’s worth talking about. These creatures come from Native American folklore, and people are hooked on them because of their mysterious and spooky nature. But there’s an extensive conversation to be had about how we talk about these stories. We must consider handling cultural stories that aren’t ours to tell. We must continue this conversation to understand and respect these indigenous traditions.
Emily Johnson is the creative force behind Save Community’s content strategy, focusing on social media articles. With her background in digital marketing and her knack for design, Emily creates content that’s both engaging and visually stunning. Her storytelling skills and keen understanding of brand voices make her an essential part of our team.