Along with their new abilities, the Navajo Skinwalkers still retain their full mental capacities. If the Navajo witch is a fairly or highly intelligent person, when he or she changes into a Skinwalker they carry that intelligence with them and you have a very dangerous opponent. The Navajo Skinwalkers use mind control to make their victims do things to hurt themselves and even end their lives. Skinwalkers have been known to place objects in the bodies of their victims. These objects cause pain, illness and even death.
Every culture has shape shifters.
Just too name a few. Native Americans have people who can change their shape into birds, deer, or any animal they choose. But they do not all use their shape shifting for evil. Like I said earlier, it was very difficult to gather information. Navajos do not want to talk about the Skinwalkers.