When I was growing up back in Wisconsin, the metaphysical/occult section of the high school library was only a mere two and a half shelves. I probably checked out every book on those shelves at least three times each. I remember in one book in the chapter about Bigfoot, there was a map of the United States showing the number of reported sightings in each state. Wisconsin had only three, but the Pacific Northwest states were in the triple digits! The article did emphasis that these were only reported sightings and that actually sightings were at least three times that amount. Damn, I thought - I'll never get to see one here. Now I live in the Pacific Northwest, and have been for over a decade now, and I have never seen Bigfoot - nor has anyone that I know of.
I am also part blood Chinook Indian and I have researched a great deal on our history and mythology (note: a myth has a basis in fact like mythology and legend is a story like an urban legend) and I often see Bigfoot researchers stretching their facts greatly. There are lots of lists out there such as this one from:
List of Indian Names for Bigfoot
The following is a compilation of the many Indian names for the creature known through out the USA and Canada as BIGFOOT.I find it very interesting that so many Tribes through both countries have so many different names for these creatures.As we go through all these different names we will learn there meanings as well.According to Indian folklore the bigfoot or Sasquatch has many different names,dating back to pre-colonial times.The following is a list of these names, if these names are correct and the history of this creature is correct then he is in my book a LIVING LEGEND.
Name----------------- ------Tribe---------------------------------Translation
Yi'dyi'tay------------- Nehalem Tillamook Indian ------------"Wildman"
Sasquatch------------- Salish Indian -------------------------"Wildman of the Woods"
Sc'wen'ey'ti---------- Spokane Indian-------------------- "Tall Burnt Hair"
Skanicum -------------Colville Indians -----------------------"Stick Indians"
Choanito -----------Wenatchee Indians------------------- "Night People"
Ste ye mah---------- Yakama Indians --------------------"Spirit Hidden by Woods"
Seatco ----------------Klickitat Indians --------------------------"Stick Indian"
See'atco---------- Coast Salish Indians -----------------"One who runs and hides"
Tsiatco ---------------Nisquall/Puyallup -------------------------"Wild Indians"
Seeahtkch ------------Clallam Indians----------------------- "Not Available"
Qui yihahs---------------- Yakama ---------------------------------"The Five Brothers"
Skookum-------------- Chinook Indian------------------------- "Evil God of the Woods"
At'at'ahila------------ Chinookan Indian ----------------------"Not Available"
Omah --------------------Yurok Indians ---------------------------------"Not available"
Oh Mah----------------- Hoopa Indians----------------------------- "Boss of the Woods"
Bukwas---------- Kwakwaka'wakw Indians ----------------"Wildman of the Woods"
Tah tah kle'ah--------- Shasta Indians ----------------------"Owl Woman Monster"
Rugaru ----------------Turtle Mtn Ojibway --------------------------"Not Available"
Windago--------- Eastern Athabascan Indian -------------"Wicked Cannibal"
Wetiko--------------------- Cree Indians -----------------------------------"Not Available"
Chiye tanka--------- Lakota[west]/sioux Indian -----------"Big Elder Brother"
Chiha Tanka-------- Dakota[east]/Sioux Indian ---------"Big Elder Brother"
Matlose--------------------- Nootka Indian --------------------------------"Not Available"
Neginla eh------------------ Yukon Indian------------------------------ "Woodman"
Nantiinaq Kenai--------- Peninsula Indian------------------ "Not Available"
Nant'ina ----------------------Dena'ina Indian ------------------------------"Not Available"
Urayuli --------------------SW Alaskan Eskimo -------------------------"Not Available"
Get'qun------------------- Lake Lliamna Indian -------------------------"Not Available"
Kushtaka--------------------- Tlinglit Indian ---------------------------------"Otter Man"
A hoo la huk------------------ Yup'ik Indian ------------------------------'Not Available"
Gilyuk Nelchina------------- Plateau Indian----------------------- "Big Man with Little Hat"
Lariyin--------------------------- Hare Indian ---------------------------------------"Bushman"
So'yoko------------------------- Hopi Indian --------------------------------------"Not Available"
Ot ne yar heh----------------- Iroquios Indian ---------------------------"Stonish Giant"
Ge no sqwa------------------- Seneca Indian -----------------------------"Stone Giants"
Ge no'sgwa-------------------- Seneca Indian ------------------------------"Stone Coats"
Miitiipi--------------------------Kawaiisu Indians--------------------"Bad Luck Or Disaster"
Tso apittse---------------------Shoshone Indian-------------------------"Cannibal Giant"
Toylona------------------------------Taos Indian---------------------------"Big Person"
Atahsais-----------------------------Zuni Indian-------------------"The Cannibal Demon"
Boqs--------------------------------Bella Coola Indian--------------"Bushman"
Madukarahat----------------------Karok Indian-------------------------"Giant"
Nun Yunu Wi-----------------------Cherokee Indian---------------------"The Stoneman"
Kecleh-Kudleh--------------------Cherokee Indian----------------------"Hairy Savage"
Esti Capcaki-----------------------Siminole Indian-----------------------"Tall Man"
Mesingw Lenni----------------------Lenape Indian-----------------------"The Mask Being"
Misinghalikun Lenni---------------Lenape Indian-----------------------"Living Solid Face"
Wsinkhoalican Lenni-------------Lenape Indian-------------------------"The Game Keeper"
Sakets------------------------Salishan/Sahptin Indian---------------------"The Giant"
Yayaya-ash-----------------------Klamath Indian---------------------------"The Frightner"
Manabai'wok---------------------Menomini Indian-------------------------"The Giants"
Nu'numic--------------------------Owens Valley Paiute-------------------"The Giant"
Tse'nahaha-----------------Mono Lake Paiute-----------------------------"Giant"
Tsadjatko--------------------------Quinault Indian---------------------------"Giants"
Heciatomixw-----------------------Quinault Indian-------------------------"Dangerous Being"
Skukum-----------------------------Quinault Indian--------------------------"Devil of the Forest"
Slalakums---------------------------Upper Stalo Indians-------------------"The Unknown"
Na'in----------------------------------Gwich'in
Indian--------------------------"Brushman"
This information is not very accurate. For example in Chinook the traditional name for Bigfoot is Boqs and the Chinook Jargon (Trade Language) name is Sasquatch. The word skookum according to this list says "Evil God of the Woods" - I don't know where they got that from it is actually the Jargon word for "power" and the traditional language word for "evil spirit". "At'at'ahila" in this list, they don't even know what it means yet they still list as a name for Bigfoot, which is actually the proper name of a mythological being in Chinook mythology. Many of the names used in the above are inappropriately used. For example "Stick Indians" also known as "Stick People" are a race much like the English and European Fairies (the bad kind, not like American fairies), and Native American giants are giants just like in European mythology. Bukwus and Tsonokwa are from a race of wild people - not like Sasquatch. A Seatko or T'siatko is a demon, etc., etc.
I know that many Bigfoot researchers are hot to prove the existence of the creature, and in such cases as Native American mythology their research of it is even more spotty. Many have a "Harry and the Hendersons" approach to Bigfoot. In Chinook Indian mythology they were a vicious race of demons that tormented man and was known to abduct and eat humans. (By the way, a cannibal is one who eats his own species - Bigfoot and human are NOT the same species - so lets not call Bigfoot cannibals because they are known to eat humans in mythology.) In one particular Chinook myth a Boqs was tormenting a particular village and the villagers got together and dug a large pit and covered it. They baited the Boqs into the trap. Then the villagers threw wood into the pit with the Boqs and burned it. The Boqs cursed the Indians telling them that he would be back to bite and sting them. The villagers continued to burn wood in the pit late into the night. The following morning all that was left was ashes and with a long sticks, they stirred the ashes to make sure everything was completely burned when small insects came from the hot ashes and began biting and stinging the Indians. Thus Boqs had his revenge.
In many tribes, Sasquatch is not a physical being but a demon spirit who is only seen when those who have witnessed it have strayed from their path in life and they view this omen as a warning to "straighten up". If this is indeed the case, then we may never find physical proof of its existence.
In any event, when researchers of crytozoology or the paranormal, who are researching such events make these kinds of misrepresentations to fortify the possibility of what they are trying to prove exists, they just do more damage then good. They are so driven to prove the validity of what they are claiming that they make things out of what they are not to validate themselves, only to make themselves even more foolish. I do believe in my tribal mythological view of Sasquatch, and am not trying to debunk its existence here, only to debunk some of the researchers misinformation about it.
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