Hee hee, you stumbled right upon the big problem. There are hundreds if not probably hundreds of thousands of stories in regards to skinwalkers on the reservation but overt discussion of them is taboo. What happens as a result is that many stories may have originated because it was one person's suspicion or even perhaps somebody thought somebody else was a skinwalker and started spreading rumours. Everybody knows or has heard of someone who is suspected of practicing witchcraft. Anyone who is traditional and working a normal job but displays too much material wealth could be considered a skinwalker. A family that is odd, impoverished and keeps to themselves could be skinwalkers. The general assumption is that if skinwalkers are haunting a person or family, somebody has procured their services. Is there any validity to that? I'm not so sure.

Another story in regards to skinwalkers is that to identify a skinwalker by name equates death--to the skinwalker. So, if it equals death to be identified than how are their services procured by those who are not skinwalkers? It's a contradiction. Almost all the stories in their origins and dealings contradict each other. It poses a huge problem in trying to discern what is truth and what isn't. Our crystal gazer said that it was jealousy that was causing our problems and a good deal more, which I will get into in another thread.

There is a story within the family that my husband's grandfather experienced and shared. A medicine man along with several elders (including the grandfather) came together to hold a particuliar ceremony in a ceremonial hogan (strictly used for ceremonies. The particuliar ceremony that they did was a signal for communication with whatever is perturbing a family. This ceremony is used when a medicine man cannot perceive the whys of something happening. In this case, it was skinwalkers causing the trouble and the ceremony was an offer of negotiation and discussion. Like a parlay between enemies. The hogan was left darkened and only smoldering coals were in the center of the hogan for light. The door to the hogan was left open and the elders and the medicine man formed a U shape with the open part of the U to the door. This was an invitation for those who would to come in. A young male skinwalker did come into the hogan. He talked of how much he didn't like his life and what he had to do but how he had no choice. He said that he would leave it behind him but if he did, he would be killed. He was obviously distressed. Eventually, he left the hogan and went on his way. According to this young skinwalker, even leaving the skinwalker community equals death. It would follow that identification by outsiders would also equal death to protect their secrets.

So, why they do what they do is hard to say. If they are contacted to procure their services, how are they contacted without risking their identity being revealed? If there is some way to contact skinwalkers in such a manner, my family is unaware of it. All we do know about our previous visits were that there were four skinwalkers involved: a woman, who was the leader, a man, and two children, who were the woman's students.

Stephanie

In every man there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.--Ralph Waldo Emerson