I heard somewhere that there are Native American legends on Werewolves. Is this true?

Question

I heard from a friend of mine that Plains Indian tribes have legends about a half-man half-animal called the Wendigo. Is that the same as a werewolf or is the werewolf called another name?

Answer 1

You're thinking of Skinwalkers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin-walker_%28mythology%29

Answer 2

Completely different creatures.
A werewolf is a human who by will, or curse, takes the form af a wolf or transitional wolf-like beastling. Werewloves switch between forms and can go among men, unlike the Wendigo whis stuck in its possessed form until destroyed.

A wendigo is a spirit form that enters a human host after commiting a great evil against nature, or an act of killing a human to devour its flesh. The cfeature's flesh is yellowish with matted hair, long tongues, and great yellowed fangs.

Some Native Americans still believe in the Wendigo. A Cree Indian named Jack Fiddler. He claimed to have killed at least 14 of the creatures. In October 1907, Fiddler and his son, Joseph, were tried for the murder of a Cree woman. They both pleaded guilty to the crime claiming self defense. Claiming that the woman had been possessed by the spirit of a Wendigo and was on the verge of transforming into one entirely. According to their defense, she had to be killed before she murdered other members of the tribe.

Some are under the impression that a more earthly explanation for the Wendigo is a sub-species of Sasquatch that has developed a taste for human flesh. They cite the numerous cases of missing persons who go missing in the North American wilds. Lost, with no remains ever found.

Answer 3

The Wendigo is a sort of werewolf I guess. The indians that know of and tell of his legend are in the north though. Up towards and into Canada. I've always thought that they were actually talking about wht we refer to as bigfoot.

Answer 4

Not only does the Plain Indians have legends of the werewolf............. Also the Wendigo can be any forest animal........ But never a human being.............

Answer 5

They sure do. Indians know about shape shifters. There was even an X File show on werewolves on a South Dakota Reservation.

Answer 6

im native indian descent yes wendigo is the werewolf
half man half beast his offspring are the wolves that howl at night

Answer 7

All cultures have stories of were animals. My Grandmother was from Czechoslovakia. She told stories of people turning into bears on Harvest moons with the exact opposite personalities they would have had in real life.

Answer 8

yup its true and they only where nike shoes and red shirts with bells on the sleeves there favorite pastime is introducing people who like to ask questions about werewolves to there buddy dracula who is a great dresser for a dead man but bad attitude problem.