The Native American Ghost Witch Monster, The Skadegamutc
Sephiroth-Art/Deviant ArtThe Skadegamutc are undead evil magicians that come back to life to feed on the living.
Witches appear in the myths of cultures all around the world — including Native American folklore. Take the Skadegamutc or ghost-witch. These monsters are mentioned in the legends of the Wabanaki, a confederacy of tribes that occupied the lands of modern-day Maine.
The Wabanaki, which roughly translates to “People of the Dawnland,” still exist today. They are survived by the four large tribes of Maine — the Maliseet, the Micmac, the Penobscot, and the Passamaquoddy tribes.
According to the shared lore of Wabanaki culture, a Skadegamutc is said to emerge when an evil sorcerer refuses to stay dead. The undead magician comes alive again at night, taking the shape of a ball of light.
They stalk the open woods for unsuspecting victims to eat as the only way to maintain their immortality is to feed on the blood and flesh of humans.
One story about the Skadegamutc that was obtained from an Abenaki teenager recounted the gruesome tale of a native man and his wife that stumbled upon the grave of a dead magician.
Sephiroth-Art/Deviant ArtOne story about the Skadegamutc relays the tragic events that took place when a native man and his wife stumbled upon one of these creatures.
According to this Native American legend, the couple took shelter in the grove where a dead magician had been buried. The wife, frightful at the sight of the burial high above the trees, insisted they camp somewhere else. The husband refused and went to sleep.
By dawn, after listening to a strange gnawing sound that persisted all night, the woman went to wake her husband only to find that his left side had been gnawed away, and his heart was gone. She sought help at a village nearby.
The residents did not believe her at first. But when they took the dead magician’s remains down from the tree, they found traces of fresh blood on the corpse’s face.
Despite their undead condition, the Skadegamutc allegedly still retain their sorcery. A Skadegamutc can put curses on humans with its powerful magic. The old native folklore of the Skadegamutc also alleges that some humans are more vulnerable to these ghost witches than others.
Mainly, the Skadegamutc are said to stalk unsuspecting people during times of grief, such as at a funeral. It is said that these Native American monsters also preyed on people who got lost or separated from their group as they walked through the woods.
Interestingly, there are a few characteristics of the Skadegamutc that are similar to other creatures in popular culture. These undead witch monsters need to feed on blood as vampires do, and they can only be killed with fire, a commonly known method to be effective on witches in European lore.
Despite these similarities, the mythical monsters of Native American folklore are wholly distinct to the different tribal cultures which persisted and survived over centuries. And all of these dark tales point to humanity’s deepest fears — which makes them timelessly terrifying.
Now that you’ve learned about a few of the scariest Native American monsters of mythology, read about the puzzling legend of the ancient moon-eyed people of North Carolina. Then, take a look at these 33 stunning photos of early 20th-century Native American masks brought to life through color.
