24: Kushtaka - The Ottermen Empire

This week the MLT crew dives deep into the murky waters of Kushtaka lore. The Kushtaka are otter, shapeshifting fiends from Alaska that will either tear you apart or make you one of their own. And remember, never dive deep with otter monsters! We are professionals!

Endless thanks to Mr. Tim Leavy @ https://www.timleavy.com/ for the world's best paranormal theme song!

REFERENCES:

Largest Otter Species: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter

Kushtaka: The Demon Hunter's Compendium: October 2014 (demonhunterscompendium.blogspot.com)https://demonhunterscompendium.blogspot.com/2014/10/

Kushtaka Encounter: https://oddityhive.com/mysterious-creatures/kushtakas/

Kushtaka’s power to disorient: Barazzuol, R.A. (1988). The Tlingit land otter complex: coherence in the social and shamanic order. University of British Columbia, p61

Dowando: Society of Otters: Code of Handsome Lake: Part 2: Field Notes On The Rites And Ceremonies Of The Ganio`Dai'io` Religion: The Society of Otters (sacred-texts.com) https://sacred-texts.com/nam/iro/parker/cohl153.htm

Beaver People: Steiger, B. (1999). The Werewolf book: the encyclopedia of shapeshifting. Visible Ink Press, MI, p32-33

Badger People: Steiger, B. (1999). The Werewolf book: the encyclopedia of shapeshifting. Visible Ink Press, MI, p19

Ahuitzotl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahuitzotl

Yaquaru: Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Mcfarland & Co., p1075

Lavellan: Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Mcfarland & Co., p634

Teehooltsoodi: Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Mcfarland & Co., p979

Wishpooshi: Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Mcfarland & Co., p1062

Antukai: Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Mcfarland & Co., p90-91

Amhuluk: Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Mcfarland & Co., p68

Nguruvilu Theory: Guruvilu or Gurufilu the "Fox-Snake" water creature - Full Dossier | Patagonian monsters (patagoniamonsters.blogspot.com)

Nguruvilu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguruvilu

Otter as water shaman: Pimenta, N.C., 2016. O Retorno das Ariranhas à Paisagem Baniwa (Master thesis). Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309727341_O_Retorno_das_Ariranhas_a_Paisagem_Baniwa

Beck, M.G. (1991). Shamans and kushtakas: north coast tales of the supernatural. Alaska Northwest Books, GTE Discovery Publications, Inc., WA

E.N. Anderson Account: Northwest Coast: Traditional Indigenous Relationships with Plants & Animals « Krazy Kioti | Gene Anderson

http://www.krazykioti.com/articles/northwest-coast-traditional-indigenous-relationships-with-plants-&-animals/

Tlingit Shamanism & Sorcery: Ronald L. Olson https://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/anthpubs/ucb/text/kas025-015.pdf

Tlingit Cosmology: Barazzuol, R.A. (1988). The Tlingit land otter complex: coherence in the social and shamanic order. University of British Columbia, p33-34

The Otter-Sister: Swanton, J.R. (1909). Tlingit myths and texts  https://sacred-texts.com/nam/nw/tmt/tmt010.htm

Kushtaka attack: Colp, H.D. (1953). The strangest story ever told. Exposition Press, AK

Kushtaka Encounter (reddit): Encounter with a Kushtaka : r/skinwalkers (reddit.com)https://www.reddit.com/r/skinwalkers/comments/uqlvdu/encounter_with_a_kushtaka/

A TreedKushtaka: Swanton, J.R. (1908). Haida texts and myths. Myth 7: various adventures near cross sound. Internet Archive posting, p47-48 https://archive.org/details/tlingitmythstext0039swan/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater

KAka: Tlingit Myths and Texts: Myths Recorded in English at Wrangell: 31. Raven, Part I (sacred-texts.com)    https://sacred-texts.com/nam/nw/tmt/tmt035.htm#page_87

Kushtaka Defense: The Demon Hunter's Compendium: Kushtaka (The Otterman) (demonhunterscompendium.blogspot.com)http://demonhunterscompendium.blogspot.com/2014/10/kushtaka-otterman.html

Otter Symbolism: Giant Otters: The Largest Otters In The World – CelestialPets https://www.celestialpets.com/giant-otters-the-largest-otters-in-the-world/

Nick Redfern talks Dennis Waller: Five of the Most Dangerous, & Monstrous, Humanoids Out There: Beware! - Journal News https://journalnews.com.ph/five-of-the-most-dangerous-&-monstrous-humanoids-out-there-beware/

Kushtaka & the Land Bridge: https://www.soldemedianochenews.org/kushtaka-alaskarsquos-ldquootter-manrdquo.html

Altai Otter Totems: https://aigine.kg/images/issyk-kol_book_english.PDF

Tlingit & the Dene-Yeniseian Hypothesis: Edward Vajda - YouTube

Tlingit Shamanic Ontology: Barazzuol, R.A. (1988). The Tlingit land otter complex: coherence in the social and shamanic order. University of British Columbia, p33-34

Otters Sharing Human Traits: An Ethnozooarchaeological Study of Land Otters & People at Kit’n’Kaboodle (49-DIX-46), Dall Island, Alaska   https://0.academia-photos.com/attachment_thumbnails/56046515/mini_magick20190113-18477-nf5gih.png?1547387777

Otters Sharing Human Traits 2: Redfern, N. (2017). Shapeshifters: morphing monsters and changing cryptids. Llewellyn Publications, p94