Ute Legend: Skinwalker

The Ute legend or myth of the Skinwalker is shared with the Navajo Tribe.  The skinwalker is a half man half animal (wolf, coyote fox or bear).  They may be shape shifters, changing their form.  I assume I heard this story from George Glines, a coworker in Roosevelt and native to the basin.  It seems sightings of the Skinwalker were quite frequent.  These would generally start in the north, White Rocks, follow the White Rocks highway, Fort Duchesne, Randlett, and then Ouray.  The sightings would vary in time making it seem like the Skinwalker was on the move.  I never heard stories of their attacking anyone.  

As I look online it indicates the Skinwalker is a Navajo phenomena.  However there is talk of the Navajo putting a curse on the land, or the Utes placing a curse.  At any rate there were bad feeling between the two groups.  This may have been how Skinwalker Ranch was started.  They say the Utes avoid this area.