Arizona - The Navajo Skinwalker and Edward S. Curtis

 Monument Valley Arizona

Tobadzischini who is a war God and skin walker of the Navajo tribe. This 1904 picture was taken by Edward S Curtis.

Skinwalkers 

The Navajo called the Skinwalkers the yee naaldlooshii which very loosely translated means to "by means of it, he goes on all fours." There is very little direct written evidence about Skinwalkers from the Navajo but they are considered magical, divine, sorcerers or shape shifters. They are deeply feared and respected by Navajo and even non-first nation people of northern Arizona. They are not the same as a Shaman who heals and lifts energy to cleanse. The Skinwalker is dangerous and can curse people, land and animals regardless of nationality or whether the object of the curse believes in them.  

Edward S. Curtis, American Southwest photographer

Though his work often gets published without proper credit, Edward S Curtis was a prolific photographer of First Nation people. He snapped literally thousands of photographs of the the Southwest and it's first people through the late 1800's and early 1900's. 

After 100 years of the near destruction of his dedicated documentation in not only photography but in careful recordings of their language, his work is now finally being looked after. Now it is being collated and accounted for by credible archivist and preservation experts. His priceless contribution to American History, American Indian History and to ethnology/anthropology will continue into many generations as the collection is finally professionally put back together and curated properly.

Edward S. Curtis, The Man Who Photographed the American West, Getty Images

 

"Zahadolzhaacute" By Edward Curtis 1904 

Monument Valley, Arizona, 2015

Petroglyphs 1924