Let's Talk Native...Ghosts

Each October,  I offer a blog about the world of ghosts. For 2025, I thought I’d go Native, Native American, that is.

As I’ve shared my ghost talks with more than 150 groups and organizations across the country, I discuss how the belief in ghosts is integral to every religion in the world. Whether believers are Christian or Jewish, Hindu or Muslim, one part of the dogma of every faith is the belief in ghosts. The same is true of ghosts in Native American religions. Since my new novel Red Shadows at Saugatuck features the mystery of a murdered Indian teen—or more to the point, her ghost—I thought this year I’d share some revelations about some noteworthy Native American ghosts.

Like those in traditional religions, the beliefs in ghosts of different Indian tribes vary, so I’ll spotlight a few of the best known Native American ghosts. One of most famous is the Wendigo, a mythological creature of the Algonquin tribe. It is often depicted as a cruel, malevolent spirit or a towering, emaciated humanoid, a giant with pale skin and an ice-covered heart with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. For Midwest tribes like the Ojibwe, Cree and Wabanaki, the ghost embodies human greed and gluttony and serves as a cautionary tale for humans against selfishness and spiritual imbalance.

Out west, there are tales of Skinwalkers, a central tenet of the Navaho religion. According to their beliefs, a Skinwalker is a ghost witch and shapeshifter who can take any form, human or animal. According to their tradition, Skinwalkers possess magical powers which they use for malevolent purposes. They are nearly impossible to kill except with a bullet or knife dipped in ash. The Pueblo, the Hopi and the Apache all have their own beliefs about Skinwalkers but little is known about these creatures outside Native communities because, according to Indian beliefs, speaking about the ghost witch is not only bad luck but can actually summon a Skinwalker.

For the Potawatomi, the tribe in Michigan featured in my new novel, the Nanabozho is a central ghost figure in their religious beliefs as well as for other tribes like the Objibwe.

Nanabozho, or the Trickster, is also a shapeshifter but one who can bring good or evil. His adventures often illustrate the fine line between humor and wisdom, showing that laughter can be a powerful teacher for Native Americans. The antics of Nanabozho or Nanabush, as he is sometimes known, can lead to chaos or enlightenment, reflecting the complexity of human nature. This creature is a central figure in their creation story and, through his mischievous adventures, Nanabozho teaches humans valuable lessons about the consequences of one's actions and the importance of living in harmony with the natural world.

But for Potawatomi as well as other tribes, ghosts or spirits of the deceased also serve as guides to those on the journey to the Land of the Dead and help those dying cross over and find their way to their final destination, These spirits also offer warnings to the living about good and evil. It is this belief I tapped in my telling of Red Shadows at Saugatuck, the newest entry in the Haunted Shores Mysteries. In my tale, Darrell and Erin—and their young son Leo—search for a missing Potawatomi teen only to learn she has been murdered. The teen girl haunts both father and son, seeking their help to find justice for her. Like the entries before it, Red Shadows at Saugatuck is a puzzling whodunit and, of course, a captivating ghost story, with a chilling issue at the center of the mystery. But this installment is also a tale about family bonds, relationships and love.

Early reviews of the novel have been quite kind.

“Slow-burning, socially relevant, and strangely beautiful in its grief…haunting in every sense of the word.”—litandcoffee

“From the very first chapter, I was hooked. What I loved most about Red Shadows at Saugatuck was that it wasn’t just about solving a mystery it was about family, responsibility, and courage.”—Chloe, a Goodreads reviewer

“Thoughtful, deeply human, and low-key terrifying in a quiet way.” ★★★★★ The Gold Award--Literary Titan

“One of the finest books ever written, a paranormal mystery that stole my soul and took my breath away.”★★★★★++ stars—N N Light Bookheaven

Check out this latest in the Haunted Shores Mysteries series and see if you agree. The link below will take you to your favorite bookstore.

https://books2read.com/u/bxD1nq