Woman, 28, who has identified as WOLF ‘on every level except physical’ since she was 10, slams cruel trolls: ‘I don’t need you in my life’
- Seattle’s Naia Ōkami, who identifies as a Wolfstherian, repelled trolls
- A therian is a person who identifies as a living or extinct non-human animal
- Naia, 28, claims she is “spiritually” a wolf but is aware that physically she is human
- She said she “doesn’t care” who posted her cruel comments online
- Naia said her wolf identity has no impact on her daily life, job or relationships
A woman who identifies as a wolf has spoken openly about her unique life and hit back at bullying trolls who describe her as “insane”.
Naia Ōkami of Seattle, USA calls herself Therian, which is someone who identifies as either an extinct or living nonhuman animal, and believes she is a British Columbia wolf “spiritually and psychologically.”
Speaking on the I’ve Got News For You podcast, the 28-year-old – whose online name is NaiaGoesAwoo – said identifying as a wolf doesn’t affect her daily life, relationships or job, and that she “doesn’t”. I don’t really care about the nasty things people say about them online.
Seattle’s Naia Ōkami calls herself Therian, which is someone who identifies as either an extinct or living animal, and believes she is a wolf “spiritually and psychologically.”
Naia, who is also transgender, said she was only 10 when she started telling people she had “the spirit of a wolf,” and spent years figuring out her identity before coming up with the term therian .
She said she’s a wolf “on every level but physical,” howling often, sometimes putting on a tail and ears when she dresses up, and spending time volunteering at wolf sanctuaries to bond with the animals .
“So spiritually and psychologically I identify as a wolf, but I know I’m a human. I walk on two legs, I have a job, I have a career. My partner is human,” she said.
Naia has been open about her identity and has faced harsh criticism and trolling as a result, but is unfazed.
“There are many reasons to hate a person. If you hate me because I’m blunt and said something that offended you or did something wrong, that’s a valid reason not to like me,” she said.
“But if you only dislike me for an identity or a trait that doesn’t harm you or anyone else, then I don’t really need you in my life anyway.”
Naia said people also often mistakenly assume she must have mental health issues, but assured listeners that’s not the case.
“Mental health problems are judged by how they affect your performance in society. Do they affect your abilities in daily life? Are they affecting your career opportunities? Do they affect interpersonal relationships? Being a therian does none of that,” she said.
She said she is a wolf “on every level except physically,” howling often, sometimes wearing tails and ears, and spending time volunteering in wolf pens to bond with the animals
‘Are there people who have taken it way too far to the point where yes, if you go to work and bark at your co-workers, that’s clearly a problem, but most therians don’t.’
Naia volunteers at wolf sanctuaries to be closer to her canine counterparts, and said her bond with the animals isn’t “supernatural” or “magical,” but more that of a wildlife professional who cares for and studies them.
She often wears wolf-themed clothing and accessories, and said that she occasionally dresses up with a tail and ears when attending special events like Comic Con.
Naia has been open about her identity and has faced harsh criticism and trolling as a result, but is unfazed
Naia said her unique identity “makes no difference” in her friendships and relationships, and has few Therian friends.
Claiming to be a wolf therian, she actually helps her in her work as a detective tracking down people who harm animals and children.
“When I’m chasing predators … I feel like a wolf chasing my prey, and my prey happen to be people doing bad things,” she said.
