Jane Wrote:
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> Hi Ritva,
>
> Interesting that you say "amen," though not sure
> how you mean it. There is a sense in which the
> predator strengthens the herd and I have been
> thinking that there is a sense, for all the
> evident negative intent, that the skinwalker
> strengthens the tribe. It occurs to me that
> taboos may also figure in an awareness of that at
> some level. That's a speculation not a
> conclusion. It would be interesting to know from
> the Navaho perspective if some of that is at work
> here.

Interesting thoughts, Jane. Yes, it is specualation but no less interesting. I guess it could be perceived that skinwalkers somehow strengthen the tribe, perhaps not in a physical sense but a spiritual one. Considering that the only way to "turn off" skinwalkers is to seek the aid and counsel of a medicine man, the activity of skinwalkers can be seen as a way to reaffirm cultural spiritual beliefs. It is an active spiritual threat that needs a wholly Navajo spiritual counter. In a sense, it could be seen as a symbiotic relationship where the tribe gets strengthened in their spiritual beliefs. Considering how much cultural loss has occurred since the Long Walk, if there were no skinwalkers still around to terrorize the Navajo tribe, how much more would've been lost? Use through necessity would keep many traditions alive. Speculation but a very interesting one.

Stephanie




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