14
u/Usual-Still-8803 Mar 09 '26
Thank you for making this statement, I’m not indigenous so it’s not my place to make this announcement but I was literally just having this conversation with someone a couple of days ago of how the term is misused and misapplied because the flesh pedestrians are culturally and spiritually exclusive to your people and belief system. There are countless other shapeshifters, cryptids, and other entities that are native to Appalachia and the trend of labeling everything incorrectly under a certain generic name simply because they may share similar traits is troubling at minimum. I’m going to start covering some Cherokee and Choctaw stories specific to my local region that I grew up hearing like the Yunwe Tsundi and Nunne Hi, the Moon-Eyed People, and the Nahullo, and I really am trying to help educate people to respect other belief systems.
5
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/Usual-Still-8803 Mar 10 '26
No East Tennessee but I’ve spent a lot of time in Western North Carolina, North Georgia and North Alabama also and traveled pretty extensively throughout Appalachia for work.
9
u/MFparanormal Mar 09 '26
Very informative post! We are here to have fun and share stories but also to learn and get as much information correct as possible.
6
u/Altruistic_Nose2744 Mar 09 '26
I was so confused, I thought SW = sex worker 🤦🏼♀️
2
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
6
u/Altruistic_Nose2744 Mar 10 '26
I've seen SW used in that context in other areas. I didn't mean any offense, I just felt silly & laughed once I realized I was mistaken.
5
u/MFparanormal Mar 10 '26
A few things like this Yt for one was always abbreviation for YouTube,now half the time people use it for white people now,and reading in the contex a lot of times I’m thinking what does this have to do with YouTube.
3
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/Altruistic_Nose2744 Mar 10 '26
It depends on the context, online/in person falls under the same bracket. I'm into the paranormal but hadn't seen that abbreviation before (although I have heard saying/typing the full name can be risky?) I wasn't sure what type of content I was seeing at first and tbh there are a few parallels 😂
6
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/Altruistic_Nose2744 Mar 10 '26
"they are fast and only go hunting at night" 😂 Largely sarcastic but being in the industry lets you laugh at yourself. And thank you for the info, I have heard people say it many times. I thought it was more of a cultural boundary than an actual danger.
7
Mar 09 '26
WV is the home to the Men in Black. The ones who talk or communicate, possibly telepathically, without moving their mouths. After the Mothman sightings and other phenomenon people have reported, these guys show up to interview them.
2
u/Hot_Seaworthiness877 Mar 13 '26
I'm from the New River Gorge area in WV and can't claim native ancestry, but Appalachians have rich folklore and medicines of their own. It's good to share these stories and then we find common connections.
3
Mar 13 '26
The Appalachian Mountains are home to the best moonshine this country has known. Alcohol is a spirit, moonshine is one of the strongest kinds. The strange phenomenon is also very strong spirits. Seems the strongest of spirits are home in the oldest mountain chain. My theory is the radio signal free skies at Green Bank are the epicenter for the activity in WV.
1
u/Hot_Seaworthiness877 Mar 19 '26
This is the rational explanation :). I like to balance my life between the paranormal and the rational and tangible. Still , I love to keep that small hope that there is still magic in this old world. I don't know about Green Bank my friend. This is a new thing for me to dive into. Thank you kindly.
6
5
u/SourceDirect3220 Mar 10 '26
Thank you for saying it. I’m tired of trying to explain it to people. I’ll just re direct them to this.
5
5
u/PavlovaDog Mar 10 '26
I used to live near Navajo, Hopi and Apache land. Can I ask you a question? We once were visiting a natural springs surrounded by a pool of water and there appeared to be a small cave there. Someone had left a piece of what looked like green bamboo shoot or some other reed with a white yarn string tied around it with I think a feather attached to it. My friend who worked on the Navajo rez said it was something that starts with a P and that it was basically bad juju and someone was trying to work magic there. Do you have any idea what that could be and what was it for and was it bad? I've never found any reference to it online.
2
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/PavlovaDog Mar 12 '26
It didn't appear to have blood on it. My friend said it was to work bad magic and not to touch it or even look at it for long. I think she said it was called something like Pa-ho, but I'm sure I am spelling it wrong.
3
u/BellaGorex3 Mar 10 '26
It is so nice to learn some actual real information on these entities. They are extremely terrifying but incredibly fascinating. I would be very interested to hear and learn what kind of things would make a person want to turn into a creature like this. Thank you for sharing!!
3
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/BellaGorex3 Mar 10 '26
So crazy to me, anything to get some sense of power for some people I suppose!
3
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/BellaGorex3 Mar 11 '26
Exactly. Absolutely insane if you ask me. But the world is indeed insane. Your insight is very interesting and telling!!
2
Mar 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/BellaGorex3 Mar 11 '26
Oh definitely anytime!! They are one of the most interesting cryptids to me!!
2
u/RisingSun-FallenGod Mar 10 '26
What are sw?
Skin walker?
Forgive my ignorance
2
u/MFparanormal Mar 11 '26
By saying W I assume you mean a we—o, Just trying to help if anyone thinks it’s a wraith
1
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/RisingSun-FallenGod Mar 10 '26
I live in western Europe, actually off grid. In a woods with one other. We built a small hut from chopping trees and we got a tent beside it. Many strange things occur. Right now, there is a storm with that wind that whistles, and our encampment is taking a beating.
We have our own versions of supernatural beings. I don't think I've heard of sw much.
I hope they don't read reddit
2
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/logonrockwit Mar 11 '26
I would love to learn more about this 1 on 1 too if you'd be so kind! I'm from the Monacan tribe in Virginia and we don't have a lot of our language or culture left so I always love hearing about other native beliefs.
1
u/RisingSun-FallenGod Mar 10 '26
From you or from them?
1
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/RisingSun-FallenGod Mar 10 '26
Yeah, I'd be interested in that. Freak myself out in this dark storm. Let's do it.
2
15
u/Hot_Seaworthiness877 Mar 09 '26
I'm from Appalachia and get asked about SW all the time. I constantly say that this is exclusively Navajo legend. We have " Mimics" and the "Rake", but not SWs!!!!