Naia Ōkami: Trans woman who identifies as a ‘wolf' slams trolls who dubbed her mentally ill, calls it a ‘spiritual thing’
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: Naia Okami, a 28-year-old from Seattle, describes herself as a therian, meaning someone who identifies as either an extinct or living non-human animal and believes she is "spiritually and psychologically" a British Columbia wolf. According to OtherKin Wiki, "From a young age, Ōkami felt that she was 'not human' on the inside. After watching the anime series Wolf's Rain at age twelve, she gained a fascination with wolves and as she read more about them and began to understand them, she began feeling as if she were 'a wolf in a human body'"
She recently appeared on 'I've Got News For You' and said, "So spiritually and psychologically, I identify as a wolf but I know I'm human. I walk on two legs, I've got a job, I've got a career. My partner is human." Naia, who identifies as transgender, explained that she was only 10 years old when she realized she had "the spirit of a wolf'" and started disclosing it to people.
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According to DailyMail, Naia stated, “I didn’t really have the language for it so I just kind of went around … and would tell people, ‘I’ve got the spirit of the wolf." She then added, “There’s a level of, there is some identification there as a wolf, and then there’s a level of, but I also know that I’m in a human body, I’m physically human and I’m functioning in society as a human.”
Naia also said, “Some people obviously raise their eyebrows but it’s not really that different,” she said. “If you really think about it, what does it change about your interaction with me?" Further, she explained, “The fact that I identify as a wolf doesn’t change my professional performance, it doesn’t change how I interact with co-workers, etc. It’s an interpersonal spiritual thing and the people who are overreacting to it, it’s like, OK, it doesn’t affect you any.”
The 28-year-old then stated, "If you’re gonna dislike me because of just an identity or a trait that’s not hurting you or anybody else, I don’t really need you in my life anyway.” She also raised concerns regarding mental health issues, "Mental health issues are judged by how they’re affecting your performance in society,” she said. “Are they affecting your daily living skills? Are they affecting your ability to have a career? Are they affecting interpersonal relationships?."
Naia also claimed, “Being a therian (someone who identifies as a species of non-human animal) does none of those things." Later, she added “It’s not really affected me negatively. When I’m going after predators … I get to feel like a wolf hunting my prey and my prey happens to be humans who are doing bad things." Naia stated that she often dresses up in wolf-themed clothing and accessories and said she occasionally dresses up in a tail and ears when attending special events.