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"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts. |
An image of how skin-walkers were believed to appear
Skin-walkers were, according to the folklore of the indigenous people of North America, evil witches or wizards that could transform into an animal at will, having gained their powers of transformation through the sacrifice of close relatives.[1]
Even though the legend was somewhat based in fact, the damaging rumour was spread by unscrupulous No-Maj medicine men, who were faking magical powers and feared exposure. There were actually Native American Animagi, who used their powers to mostly escape persecution or hunt for the tribes.[1] Real "skin-walkers" never existed, being nothing but a tale to demonise wizards.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
- In the legends of certain Native American people, most notably the Navajo of the Southwestern United States, skin-walkers are a type of witch with the power to transform into, possess, or disguise themselves as any animal and people. Some traditions hold that skin-walkers must wear the skin of an animal in order to be able to transform into it.[3][4] Rowling's depiction of the skin-walker drew unfavourable responses from the people of Navajo, who were uncomfortable with her drawing sympathy for an evil figure in their mythology.[5]
Appearances[]
- Pottermore (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Fourteenth Century – Seventeenth Century" at Harry Potter (website)
- ↑
J.K. Rowling on X: "In my wizarding world, there were no skin-walkers. The legend was created by No-Majes to demonise wizards."
- ↑
Witch (Navajo) on Wikipedia
- ↑ Skin-walker on Wikipedia
- ↑ "J.K. Rowling's History of Magic in North America draws criticism for cultural appropriation" from CBC News