Often I am asked if the Wendigo and Skinwalker are one in the same. The answer to that is a very hard NO! There's quite a few differences between the two that easily set them apart. One thing many overlook is the Skinwalker originated with the Navajo tribes where as the Wendigo began way up North with the Algonquin, Cree and Ojibwe tribes. While the two are often depicted to be physically similar, I feel this is a grave injustice to the tales layed down by the oral traditions long ago. Let's take a brief look at the difference in the two:

Skinwalkers- Or yee naaldlooshii, Are witches or Shamans granted the ability to change shape. It is said that they can possess animals as well. The very name yee naaldlooshii translated to "with it, he goes on all fours". In most tales, these are merely Humans. Were they wholly evil? Now that depends on your point of view. To many, the practice of withcraft is considered a form of Satanic worship where as to the Navajo cultures, this witchcraft was a way of their traditions long before European settlers arrived.

Wendigo- Windigo/Wihtikow is said to be a being of ice. It is possible for one to change or become possessed by this malevolent spirit through various means though many main stay social media platforms focus only on the cannibalism aspect. In the older tales, A Shaman could summon the Wendigo spirit to take revenge. It is also said that one can become a Wendigo through insatiable greed, murder and the breaking of several cultural taboos. More often than not, The Wendigo is depicted as a Stag headed towering giant when in truth, the original tales describe it as a famine stricken Human being with his/her flesh pulled taut over the skeleton. It is also said that the lips of the Wendigo and fingertips are often chewed off from the Wendigo itself due to it's insatiable hunger for flesh.

 Deep dive into the legend of the Gugwe

Let’s take a deep dive into the legend and lore surrounding the Gugwe.

To some, The Gugwe is a newer Cryptid. While many horror narrators have used them as the topic for horror-based fan fiction, The Gugwe is in fact not a newer Cryptid at all. Sightings go back well before the early 1900’s. The Mi’kmaq tribe tells us that the Gugwe — often called the Gougou is a hideous woman-like beast. Belief of the Mi’kmaq says it is a “fearful monster as tall as a ship’s mast” while other tales, which tend to go more into greater detail describe them as Baboon or Mandril-faced varieties of Sasquatch. In Nova Scotia, the Gugwe is said to have extremely large hands and the face of a Bear. Sometimes these tales vary and describe no snout and no visible ears. While exploring the coastal area of the continent, Samuel De Champlain heard numerous stories that made mention of a large man-like beast. This is where a great deal of confusion tends to come into play when discussing the Gugwe. If one were to look deeper into the mythology of the Gougou, One will learn that they are always depicted as females. They tend to carry baskets upon their backs in which they store children taken during the night. To find a more accurate representation, We need look no further than the Kukwes. Another figure in the oral traditions of the M’ikmaq tribe custom; In these stories, the Kukwe are said to be Sasquatch-like creatures with a high intelligence — and a very high aggression. Known to lay traps (most often in the form of carefully dug ditches), the Kukwe would trap children and Braves alike.

While the thought of a man-eating Sasquatch like creature may seem disturbing or even step far off the beaten path of what many prefer to believe,

The Mi’kmaq are not the only tribe to speak of a more malevolent Bigfoot-type creature. The Choctaw often spoke of the Shampe; An Ogre-like beast infamous for abducting women of the tribe. Depictions often show a hairy man-like beast..sometimes depicted with a long snout and horrid smell. The Chickasaw often tell of the Lofa; whose name literally translates to “Flayer” or “Skinner”. A gruesome moniker derived from the Lofa’s tendency to tear the skin from their victims. According to some folklore, If a Human is brazen enough to enter territory marked by the Gugwe, the Gugwe will decapitate them and feast upon their face. Hence the name, “Face Eaters”. Though this may very well sound like something much befitting of a horror film, many cases of this have indeed occurred. In the Northwestern territories, the Nahanni Valley — or the “Valley of the headless”, such incidents are said to have been extremely common. Of all the sightings of the Gugwe, perhaps the most well known is the Beast of Seven Chutes photograph. While a fascinating photo, by no means is it the first documented case. In Elliot Merrick’s book “True North” written in 1933, Merrick tells of a girl who encountered a beast near Traverspine in 1913. According to the young girl’s story, she was playing in an open field near the cabin belonging to her parents when a seven foot tall Ape-like creature emerged from the tree line. It mostly walked on two legs like a man, but would occasionally go to all fours. It was said to be covered in thick white hair or fur, had long arms that expanded well beyond it’s knees and sported a mane that resembled “the helmet of a Roman Centurion”. When the creature noticed the girl, it bared it’s teeth at her. (In Primate behavior, The baring of teeth is not a friendly gesture. Most often it depicts stress, tension or can even serve as a warning.). Though the young girl never witnessed the creature again, what would become known as “The Traverspine Gorilla” would be seen in the area.When examining the physical description of the Gugwe, It’s easy to tie them into the category of yet another infamous Cryptid. Of course, I am speaking of the DogMan. With their long snouts, rather rowdy and unpleasant behavior, It’s easy to see where a misidentification could take place. Especially if one were to witness a Gugwe from a distance or in poor lighting. The Type-3 Variant-1 DogMan seems to fit the description of a Gugwe perfectly. Given the shorter muzzle, the ears located on the sides of the head rather than the top, and the location of the eyes, I have to wonder if this variant does not belong on the DogMan type chart as much as it does in a category all it’s own. Depending on whom you speak with, Opinions of what the Gugwe is will vary greatly. Some will say they are definitely a type of Sasquatch while others will say no. At this point in time, It’s difficult to make a final decision. If one follows the belief that Sasquatch is without a doubt a Human, than the Gugwe could not fit into this classification. (The opinion stated is merely a source of conversation, not a basis for argument.) On the other hand, If you’re a believer that Sasquatch is a type of animal, than Gugwe could easily fit into the Sasquatch family. We have to keep in mind that the tribes of indigenous peoples were not exposed to various Primates as of yet. Baboons did not originate here.With their point of origin taking place in Southern Africa, The various native tribes would have little to compare them to. They would not fit the description of Wolves, Coyotes or anything Canine. In fact, the closest resemblance would be that of a Bear. Which could explain the origins of the Bear-Man lore. Another interesting feature of the Gugwe to take note of, is their tendency to knuckle walk. A very Primate-like behavior often seen in Apes. So? Is it possible that the Gugwe stem from some form of Prehistoric Baboon or Mandril? Many will theorize that due to the aggression and the brutal method of killing that the Gugwe are derived from some sort of Demonic realm. In truth, the violence is not at all strange should be they a type of Primate; Chimpanzee troops will hunt and systematically kill opposing troops. Baboons will prey upon smaller animals — sometimes even resorting to eating them while they are still alive. The method of killing, though extremely violent also happens to be extremely sufficient. By aiming for the face of it’s prey, the Gugwe is able to not only suffocate it’s intended quarry, but more importantly, take hold of them in a vital fashion that would allow little to no resistance on behalf of the prey. So there you have it, folks. A deep dive into one of my favorite Cryptids. As always, feel free to share your thoughts, theories and ideas on them. But..do so respectfully. No need for arguments to ensue.

 Defining Cryptozoology.

I think I can speak for a lot of fellow researchers and enthusiasts when I say that Cryptozoology over the years had become quite murky. Too many non-Cryptids have been pushed as legitimate Cryptids. Case(s) in point: SlenderMan. The Rake. Both of which were created through Creepypasta. No. The SCP Foundation also is NOT Cryptozoology. Those too are stories made specifically for the internet. I feel we need to define the differences between Fortean, Cryptozoology and internet folklore. First, let's take a look at the actual definition of the term Cryptid:

Cryptid=

an animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Yeti.

^^ This would include Sasquatch. The Loch Ness Monster. The Devil Monkeys. And to some degree, (depending on which stories you follow and believe.) DogMan. Personally, I don't feel DogMan is necessarily a Cryptid. If it's Interdimensional, than there's a chance that they may not be animals, rather, Beings from a different dimension. If you believe in that theory. There's a much longer list of what would ACTUALLY be considered a Cryptid, and I hope some of my fellow researchers weigh in here to help strengthen the point..

While it's not a popular opinion, Things such as Slenderman, at least in my belief, Are simply made up. They are stories meant to frighten people. Meant to create hype for movies, video games and other Creepypastas. Even in my studies of folklore, I've had to learn to separate stories from possible reality. I've even had to learn to classify certain entities in other categories. For example, Wendigo and Yee Naaldlooshii are NOT Cryptids. Those belong much more in the class of Paranormal--as they are both heavily supernatural in concept and in origin. We as a community need to do better. We need to practice actual Cryptozoology and know when to differentiate these different things. Placing made up beings in Cryptozoology only clouds the field. If we're ever going to find acceptance by mainstream science, Cryptozoology needs to tighten it's belt. Let's do better, folks! Remember, there's absolutely nothing wrong with critical thinking. Nor is there anything wrong with allowing others to know that some things, as much as we might hate to admit it, are made up.