Early Native American Lore

This post was kindly sent into me by a gentleman named Thomas Phelps, who has a back ground in history. I appreciate his contribution.

 

 

A book by Andrew Blackbird titled, History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan (first published in 1887, but available on Scribd), has a legend story in Chapter 3 of the “earliest possible history” of Mackinaw Island and its inhabitants. As the story goes, the Ottawa (Odawa) came upon the island already occupied by a small band of Indians, who in turn consolidated with the Ottawa. A subsequent fight with Seneca (Iroquois) left only two ‘Ottawa’ survivors, a man and a woman, who escaped into the deepest wild and raised children, shunning civilization. It is believed:

“That is, they can be seen and unseen just as they see fit to be; and sometimes they simply manifest themselves as being present by throwing a club or a stone at a person walking in solitude, or by striking a dog belonging to the person walking; and sometimes by throwing a club at the lodge, night and day, or hearing their footsteps walking around the wigwam when the Indians would be camping out in an unsettled part of the country, and the dogs would bark, just as they would at any strange person approaching the door. And sometimes they would be tracked on snow by hunters, and if followed on their track, however recently passed, they could never be overtaken. Sometimes when an Indian would be hunting or walking in solitude, he would suddenly be seized with an unearthly fright, terribly awe stricken, apprehending some great evil. He feels very peculiar sensation from head to foot–the hair on his head stand and feeling like stiff porcupine quill. He feels benumbed with fright, and yet does not know what it is; and looking in every direction to see something, but nothing to be seen which might cause sensation of terror.”

The Ottawa call it “Paw-gwa-tchaw-nish-nah-boy,” or “wild roaming supernatural being.” This story caught my attention for the description contained within, which happens to be very similar to reports of Sasquatch behaviors experienced during encounters. I have never seen Blackbird’s accounting of Ottawa legend mentioned as a possible historical Sasquatch tale, but I think by the description it should be included.

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Bigfoot encounter in Washtenaw County { 2004}

Washtenaw Co 20 Nov 2004 – Ape-Like Creature Seen Crossing Trail; Gray Female Observed
From: R W
While listening to the [police band] radio today, the DNR received a report from two people inside the Waterloo State Recreation area of large 7′ tall, ape-like creature with dark brown fur crossing a trail near Cassidy Lake. The creature was carrying a freshly killed deer under it’s arm according to the two eyewitnesses who saw it cross 25 feet in front of them and apparently they wasted NO time in leaving the area in fear.
From what I remember, they were close to or within 1.5 miles of Cassidy Lake, “on a trail that has a bend on it.” I suspect that they were near or closer to Green Lake in the south side of that area.
Interestingly, one of the DNR officers mentioned that he was wondering if it was the same creature that he spotted last month on the west side of Welch Lake Rd near Seymour Rd [about 7 miles west of the above sighting, which is 5 miles west into Jackson Co. from the Washtenaw Co. border]. He [the other officer] said no, that creature was dark gray in color and clearly a female with breasts from what he could see through his binoculars, but he was only able to observe it for 45 seconds before it moved back into the woods out of sight. Apparently, they must have had an anti-poaching sting going on, or looking for hunters in an area that is off limits to hunting and the creature was observed very nicely from a distance with high-powered binoculars by the DNR officer.
Moreover, he mentioned that the Sheriff’s Dept., had a report nearby north of Chelsea, where a hunter found a large buck with its head tore (twisted?) off, and it’s insides torn out. The hunter had a very weird feeling that he was being watched and heard some large branches snap, he left the area and called the police.
Both of the DNR officers concluded that it was probably the Sasquatch in the area that was responsible. However, if anyone asks him what is he is doing out in the woods with a camera or collecting any evidence, [one of the DNR officers said he would] just tell them that he is looking for signs of poachers. One thing the DNR mentioned, was that no hunter in their right mind would have turned down such a prize buck like the one found north of Chelsea, which was easily a 12 pointer. Apparently, the head was ripped off the body and thrown several yards away, and the poor thing looked like it was beat to death, then had it’s insides cut open and emptied out. However, they did not mention anything about the liver being missing.
I really think that the DNR investigates Sasquatch sightings, but they don’t divulge this to the general public. I mean how would it look if the DNR was out in the woods and they were asking the public if they saw Bigfoot walk through the area lately? However, I have heard three DNR officers say they have actually seen one of these creatures while out in the field, and they have no doubt about it being a reality.
After hearing this today, and all the other reports of dead deer found in the woods across northern Washtenaw County, especially from Whitmore Lake west possibly into Jackson County, leads me to believe that there is a family of Bigfoot creatures in that area. Moreover, I think as the deer herds move this time of the year, so do the Bigfoot creatures following them.
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Bigfoot in Detroit Michigan suburb

2016 March 20, 12:30P Westland, Wayne County, Michigan

Story provided by a former Michigan state policeman and private investigator.

On March 20, 2016 Mother and son observed two Bigfoots. This occurred while they were walking around on a high bank near a river-creek ravine complete with thickets and partially wooded areas when they heard some men partying loudly but unable to see them. As she focused on the direction of the voices her attention was drawn to a creature in a ravine down below on the opposite creek bank. It was standing with its back to the witness and noticed this creature was swaying back and forth leading the witness to believe it was listening to the men some distance away. She described the color as being reddish brown and stood approximately 9 feet tall judging the height of a branch it was standing next to. The witness says her son was standing a short distance from her and she called out to him to leave. In addition to this information she also mentioned she observed a large tubular shaped pile of waste at the time and used that a reference to the exact point where the Sasquatch was standing. Investigators went to site in October and located remnants of suspected BF poop but it was too decayed to take a specimen sample. After learning a little more on Saturday from the son, I think the big picture is that 2 BF’s were traveling upstream (east) in the river valley and their progress was stopped by encountering 2 men some distance ahead of them. The large reddish brown BF in the lead stopped and waited quite a while (10 Min?) for the men to move on, but they stayed. Witness was watching the lead BF from up on the high ground, the son was about 20 or 30 yards east of her and saw the (apparently) smaller black one, which was east (downstream) from the lead BF. Neither witness seem to know by what route the 2 BF’s left the immediate area of the sighting or became hidden view. Source: Michigan Bigfoot Research Group

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Interview with Phil Shaw from West Branch Michigan

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Possible Bigfoot sighting at the Waterloo game area

The following picture was taken several years ago by a gentleman whom we will refer to as ” Gum Shoe”, he is a former law enforcement officer who wishes to remain nameless. He and another Bigfoot investigator Bob, were out in the Waterloo- Pinkney State game area examining what they thought might be a possible Bigfoot bed. Bob was on the ground examining the bedding, while Gum Shoe was taking pictures in the area. Gum Shoe did not realize until later while going back through his pictures did he see what looks like a dark figure looking back at him. A little unnerving thinking back to that day that that they were being observed. The figure was about 50 yards from the photographer at the time. In addition Gum Shoe relates that while this was going on he was feeling agitated, which could be the result of possibly being zapped.

I know this is another grainy, fuzzy picture but is still interesting. You be the judge.

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Bigfoot in Menominee county Michigan 2012

Craig Sulk says it all started with a series of three photographs taken on one of the trail cameras on his 80 acres of property in Menominee County, Michigan in May 2012.
“To us it was pretty obvious it was something way out of the ordinary,” he told Local 5.
Craig was flipping through photos on the computer when he noticed the anomaly and showed his wife, Barb.
“And he said, ‘look at this,’” Barb remembers, “and I don’t recall who said it, but they said it’s a bigfoot and we were like, ‘get out of here.’”
Over the years and after gaining further evidence, like seeing glowing red eyes at night, trees being knocked over, and strange sounds at night, that initial skepticism has grown into a belief in bigfoot.
“Once you get the picture and know these things are real, then you start looking at other things that are happening around you and after a while, you just know that certain things that have happened, there’s no other explanation than a bigfoot did it,” Craig said.
The first three trail camera photos lead to an appearance on Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot” in 2014, which in turn lead to the national spotlight landing on the Sulk property.
Craig says he named the bigfoot “Hyden” because “he’s always hidden,” and together with Barb, opened “The Hyden Adventure,” to give visitors a chance to see the evidence for themselves.
“We want people to be able to come and experience and listen and learn,” Barb said.
According to the Sulks, a lot of their guests come with their own bigfoot experiences and beliefs.
“A lot of people who come here really have nowhere to go and talk about what they’ve experienced,” Craig explained, “and they come here and it gives them a place to not be ridiculed.”
Another opportunity for bigfoot believers to come together is the Third annual Marinette/Menominee Bigfoot Convention, which will take place on June 8, 2019, and will feature several nationally known speakers.
Craig says that although he and Barb have never seen a bigfoot, they do not doubt the creature’s existence.
“We’ve had enough circumstantial evidence to know that they exist,” he said. “They’re very elusive because, in my opinion, they don’t want to be seen.”
Gathering that circumstantial evidence, Barb says, is an experience in and of itself.
“Finding all the evidence, and listening and hearing them, and the footprint, it’s just something that a lot of people that do believe don’t get to experience,” she said. “There’s a lot of unknowns out there. I think once they (visitors) leave here, they’re thinking about it, ‘are they real?’”
To learn more about The Hyden Adventure, click here.
To learn more about the Third annual Marinette/Menominee Bigfoot Convention, click here.
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Foley swamp Bigfoot, Oscoda county

Foley Swamp, Oscoda County, Michigan

1990 – © Chicago Tribune wires.
Dateline: Bay City Michigan

`BIGFOOT` IS BACK, SAY MICHIGAN RESORT OWNERS

The legendary Bigfoot is back, say deer hunters emerging from Foley Swamp in Oscoda County. Reported sightings of an 8-foot hairy creature trickled in to authorities and nearby business owners before the Oct. 1 season began.

But the hikers and hunters offer little proof other than their eyewitness accounts.

“I’ve never had any experiences with it, but it’s obvious that something is going on up here,” said Jane Stone, who with her husband owns the Bear Paw Cabins and The Little Sport Shop in Lucerne near the swamp.

“I just don’t know what it is,” she said.
“I have an open mind to it.”

On Sept. 28, two hikers told the Oscoda County Sheriff’s Department they spotted a tall, hairy creature in Foley Swamp in Huron National Forest. Art Kapa of Mayville, a Bigfoot investigator for 21 years, said he gets annual reports of sightings in Lucerne, Mio and Lewiston.

“The area is full of swamp, valleys and excellent hiding places,” Kapa said by telephone from his home Monday. Kapa insists that there are several such creatures. “There has to be more than one,” Kapa said. “But we’re not talking about a tremendous population where you see one whenever you turn a corner.”

Source: Kyle Mizokami, Tuesday, October 30, 1990

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Bigfoot in Michigan’s History

Another great report from my friend Gumshoe.

Michigan has a long and rich history of Sasquatches. In fact, the earliest mention of this strangely beast goes back to 1631 long before the French traders would ply the land and missionaries navigated through the settled waters of the Detroit River. Michigan became the 26th state when it gained its statehood more t
Michigan has a long and rich history of Sasquatches. In fact, the earliest mention of this strangely beast goes back to 1631 long before the French traders would ply the land and missionaries navigated through the settled waters of the Detroit River. Michigan became the 26th state when it gained its statehood more than a dozen years after the War of 1612.

Missionaries, fur traders and British and American combatants both wrote about encounters and sightings too. Nearly each since the state became settled there had been singular reports of Sasquatches around the state and in each county.

Most years passed with ‘no’ reports, or a single or two reports in a single year but all of that changed in 1950 when six separate reports and recorded. The lowly precedent all changed in 1962 when twelve Bigfoot reports taken that year. In the next three years, there would of sorts and 41 reports would and the public would have their first real awareness of the strange and illusive animal spotted around the region leaving the public and authorities to deal with the mystery.

The next greatest leap in reported activity occurred in 1978 when there were 46 reports that year surpassing the previous four-year jump that 41 reports over a four-year time period.

In 2006, 28 years later the number of reported Sasquatch (Bigfoot) nearly doubled at 87.

Today there are 1,376 Michigan reports to date.

———————————————————————————————-

Other information gleaned from the data:

There were 92 reports of encounters close enough to detail eye color. The overwhelming majority of colors mentioned were red, closely followed by yellow eyes.

There were 28 instances of extraordinarily tall, “Extreme Height” Bigfoots 10 feet or taller.

17 at 10 feet
5 at 11 feet
5 at 12 feet
1 at 16 feet

Colors of Sasquatch ranged from Black, Brown, Blonde, Grey, and White and all variation thereof.

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The most active time period are the hours between 7:00PM and 12:00AM midnight.

In springtime May is the peak time of year. July is the most active month of the year during summer months. During the “fall” season from the autumnal equinox period forward November is most active and February is the busiest wintertime month of the season in Michigan.

Of all four seasons the two most active are Summer and Fall, respectively.

To recap, the dawning age of Bigfoot’s march into Michigan’s long history began during the early to mid-1960s and steadily grew and peaked in 2006.

MAIN ACTIVITY GROUPS:

Boaters 29
Camping 215
Farming 141
Fishing 41
Hiking 443
Hunting 260
Motorist 247

Residence 383

1. SUB-GROUPINGS:

Abandoned Houses, Barns, Vehicles 24
Bridges 20
Caves 6
Cemeteries 9
Ditches 18
Going Bathroom 6

Swamps 252

2. SUB-GROUPINGS:

All Fours 38
Tree Breaks 207
Tree and Car Shaking 28
Watching Kids 60
Wearing Clothes 4

Window Peeping 56

3. SUB-GROUPINGS:

Extreme Heights 10 ft. or greater 28
Multiple Animals 76

4. SUB-GROUPINGS:

BF Nest 14
BF Poop 12
Odor 140
Stick Formation 35
Tracks 214
Vocals 450

Wood Knocks 64

5. SUB-GROUPINGS:

LEO 140
Military 12

Other Govt. Agency 57

7. SUB-GROUPINGS:

Aggression 184

Chasing 47
Climbing Trees or Roofs 20
Damage Property 41
Gunfire 20
House Pounding 42
Stalking 54
Stolen Food 26
Stolen Property
Throwing Objects 65
han a dozen years after the War of 1612.

Missionaries, fur traders and British and American combatants both wrote about encounters and sightings too. Nearly each since the state became settled there had been singular reports of Sasquatches around the state and in each county.

Most years passed with ‘no’ reports, or a single or two reports in a single year but all of that changed in 1950 when six separate reports and recorded. The lowly precedent all changed in 1962 when twelve Bigfoot reports taken that year. In the next three years, there would of sorts and 41 reports would and the public would have their first real awareness of the strange and illusive animal spotted around the region leaving the public and authorities to deal with the mystery.

The next greatest leap in reported activity occurred in 1978 when there were 46 reports that year surpassing the previous four-year jump that 41 reports over a four-year time period.

In 2006, 28 years later the number of reported Sasquatch (Bigfoot) nearly doubled at 87.

Today there are 1,376 Michigan reports to date.

———————————————————————————————-

Other information gleaned from the data:

There were 92 reports of encounters close enough to detail eye color. The overwhelming majority of colors mentioned were red, closely followed by yellow eyes.

There were 28 instances of extraordinarily tall, “Extreme Height” Bigfoots 10 feet or taller.

17 at 10 feet
5 at 11 feet
5 at 12 feet
1 at 16 feet

Colors of Sasquatch ranged from Black, Brown, Blonde, Grey, and White and all variation thereof.

————————————————————————————————

The most active time period are the hours between 7:00PM and 12:00AM midnight.

In springtime May is the peak time of year. July is the most active month of the year during summer months. During the “fall” season from the autumnal equinox period forward November is most active and February is the busiest wintertime month of the season in Michigan.

Of all four seasons the two most active are Summer and Fall, respectively.

To recap, the dawning age of Bigfoot’s march into Michigan’s long history began during the early to mid-1960s and steadily grew and peaked in 2006.

MAIN ACTIVITY GROUPS:

Boaters 29
Camping 215
Farming 141
Fishing 41
Hiking 443
Hunting 260
Motorist 247

Residence 383

1. SUB-GROUPINGS:

Abandoned Houses, Barns, Vehicles 24
Bridges 20
Caves 6
Cemeteries 9
Ditches 18
Going Bathroom 6

Swamps 252

2. SUB-GROUPINGS:

All Fours 38
Tree Breaks 207
Tree and Car Shaking 28
Watching Kids 60
Wearing Clothes 4

Window Peeping 56

3. SUB-GROUPINGS:

Extreme Heights 10 ft. or greater 28
Multiple Animals 76

4. SUB-GROUPINGS:

BF Nest 14
BF Poop 12
Odor 140
Stick Formation 35
Tracks 214
Vocals 450

Wood Knocks 64

5. SUB-GROUPINGS:

LEO 140
Military 12

Other Govt. Agency 57

7. SUB-GROUPINGS:

Aggression 184

Chasing 47
Climbing Trees or Roofs 20
Damage Property 41
Gunfire 20
House Pounding 42
Stalking 54
Stolen Food 26
Stolen Property
Throwing Objects 65

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