Death in Indian folklore

Folklore and mythology frequently serve as vehicles for imparting moral lessons and exemplifying appropriate behavior. Adhering to these teachings can lead to a predominantly joyful existence and a journey toward achieving greatness. Conversely, neglecting these lessons may result in a fate akin to that of the bacock.

The bacock originates from the Oeu and Chipa tribes, where it is also referred to as a PUK, a term that may be mispronounced. The term "Bok" is derived from the Oju word "pakak Hado," which translates to "be skinny."

One might consider the bacock as a distant relative of the wendigo; however, instead of succumbing to a complete zombie-like state after consuming human flesh, the bacock enters a zombie-like state first. This transformation is attributed to a hunter who erred by venturing into unfamiliar territory alone, overestimating his survival skills.

After pursuing his prey deep into the wilderness, he became lost, with no signs of wildlife in his vicinity. The hunter roamed for days without sustenance, and as his physical condition deteriorated, his spirit clung to life. After months of aimless wandering, he was left as nothing more than skin and bones, which is reflected in the name bacock, derived from the Oeu term "bakaka Doo," meaning "be skinny."

At this juncture, he finally settled down to rest, collapsing beside a tree stump. He remained there for an indeterminate number of years until he was abruptly awakened by the approach of a Hunter. This Hunter had made the same error as the bacock, venturing out alone.

Moreover, he was the first living being the bacock had encountered in years. Starved for so long and unwilling to forgo a meal, the bacock struck the Hunter with poison-tipped arrows, causing him to fall to the ground, paralyzed and defenseless.

The bacock then cautiously approached its prey, rolled him over, and employed its hunting knife to create an incision in his flesh. It inserted its bony fingers, grasped the liver, and extracted it, preparing to savor its first meal in a lifetime.

However, before retreating into the wilderness, it ensured that its victim received a parting gift: where the liver had once been, the bacock placed a stone and stitched up the wound to conceal its misdeeds. Later that night, the bacock relished every savory bite of the liver, while the Hunter returned home, only to wither away and perish within days.

The tale of the bacock is recounted to instruct children to refrain from wandering into the woods alone, serving as a reminder to hunters to exercise caution in their pursuits, remain vigilant of their surroundings, and avoid unnecessary risks. Ignoring this warning may result in becoming the next victim of the bacock, a battle that cannot be won, as one cannot kill what is already dead.

But according to the folklore of the Navajo tribe, death does not need to take hold of its own flesh in order to take others. By attaching the name tag to himself as a Chey that is a figure from Navajo mythology that should be avoided at all costs. Engaging with it physically could result in possession, a decline in mental stability, and the potential demise of all your loved ones. The term "chiy" in Navajo denotes a ghost or a malevolent spirit, but what renders this entity particularly terrifying is its composition of the most negative aspects of a person's soul.

According to Navajo beliefs, when an individual takes their last breath, all that is negative or out of balance is released into the mortal realm, while the pure essence of their soul transitions to the spirit world. Consequently, the Navajo prefer that death occurs outdoors whenever feasible; otherwise, it is essential to vacate any structure where a death has occurred, as a Chey may claim it as its new dwelling.

If one were to encounter a Chey, they might experience ghost sickness, characterized by lethargy, profound sadness, and a pervasive sense of dread and impending doom. These afflictions would intrude upon your waking life, while your nights would be plagued by nightmares. More alarmingly, you could lose autonomy over your own body, as the malevolent spirit could inundate your mind with the negative energies left by its former host—feelings of fear, sadness, rejection, anxiety, and humiliation. These unfiltered emotions could provoke behaviors that you have never previously displayed.

These characters known for their malevolent and ferocious nature, are believed to sometimes serve as vengeful spirits for Mother Earth, punishing those who disrespect her.

However, the best course of action is to avoid possession altogether. To do this, when loved ones die, the Navajo take them outside so their spirit, or Chey, can dissipate into the air. If that’s not possible, sacred rituals can be performed to detach the Chey and restore balance. Killing the afflicted is avoided because it just releases a new Chey with even more negative energy, which could possess someone else or even seek revenge on the killer.

One famous Chey story involves the Long Salt Clan. In 1825, they angered a Chey after a man from their tribe killed someone years earlier. The man sought help from a medicine man, who performed a ritual to remove the spirit.

However, the tribe cheated the priest by offering antelope instead of the requested sheep. When the priest discovered the deceit, he cursed the clan, leading to deaths within weeks. Over the following century, all members of the Long Salt Clan perished, including those who married into it. The last survivor, Alice, despite precautions, was killed in a snowstorm in 1928, marking the tragic end of the clan.