Similarities
Growing up, I always thought that the Wendigo and the Skinwalker were the same creature with different names. This is because they are very similar in many ways. The first similarity that I noticed is that both monsters were the result of Native American tribal folklore. This also means that these legends both began their popularity between the years 1890 and 1920. Physical aspects that are similar include fangs and claws. Both Wendigos and Skinwalkers are known for biting and clawing at their victims. Each creature is also known for having special, supernatural powers. Although these powers are different, they each resemble powers of the devil and possession. Many believe that Skinwalkers and Wendigos are related to the devil. Both also tend to take the form of wildlife animals. The Wendigo tends to look like a wolf or a deer and the Skinwalker is known as a shapeshifter and typically takes the form of wildlife. The main animals that the Skinwalkers takes form of are wolves, deer, bears and birds. Both monsters are also known to show signs of deterioration and death. The last similarity these two creatures have is that they both are featured in popular films and television shows.
Differences
While these two creatures have many similarities, there are more differences. As I dived deeper into the origins of the monsters, I found out that they were thought up by very different tribes. The Wendigo was formed by the Algonquin tribe while the Skinwalker legend was created by the Navajo tribe. One of the biggest differences is that the Wendigo originated in Canada and the Skinwalker originated in the Southwestern region of the United States. This means that these creatures technically came from completely different countries. Both creatures were created around the same time, but the Skinwalker did not gain huge popularity with the public until around 1990 when the Skinwalker Ranch documentary came out. At first glance the Wendigo and the Skinwalker look similar, but they are actually very different. The Wendigo takes several forms, one form is the spiritual form. This is when the Wendigo possesses human beings who have consumed human flesh. The other form that Wendigo takes is its physical form. People have said that the physical form of the Wendigo looks like a wolf, or a deer and it is often deteriorating similar to a zombie. The Skinwalker, on the other hand, is a shapeshifter and takes many different forms. It is unknown what its original form is, but they tend to shapeshift into wild animals and humans. They are surprisingly good at emulate human voices and human form. While Skinwalkers have the power to shapeshift and imitate others, the Wendigo has the power to create snowstorms which causes people to be blinded before they are attacked. It is said that both of these creatures are tied to the devil, but they are still slightly different. The Skinwalker is known as a witch while the Wendigo is said to be linked to the devil itself. Another huge difference between these creatures is their motives. Wendigos are cannibalistic beings. This means that their only goal is to consume human flesh to ease their constant hunger. The Skinwalkers goal is to gain power and popularity. Lastly, the Wendigo has always been known and popular among the midwestern region of the United States and never really had a film or television show rekindle its popularity.
Conclusion
There are many similarities between these two monsters, but there are many more differences. I believe that the reason both of these creatures exist is to place fear onto those who have sinned in the past. I know this is true for the Wendigo because this creature exists only because of cannibalism during famine. This legend was a way for the Natives to prevent cannibalism in their area. I am unsure of the whole reason that the Skinwalker exists, but since the Skinwalker is said to have connection with the devil and evil spirits I can assume that this is also a way to implement fear into those who have sinned. The Wendigo and the Skinwalker are very fasinating creatures that are known to be dangerous and evil. They each have their own unique powers that are supernatural. In addition to this blog, I have also written a research paper on the Wendigo and all of it's features. Feel free to take a look at this essay linked below.
Wendigo Essay
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1INh5Y8B8t2cFxU7HT9SWwynhZiN51g3L9pc28DCkxz0/edit?usp=sharing