Luminous,
I realize the following statement was not directed at me but it kind of relates to some perplexing questions that I have had for quite some time. Odds are I will kind of change the subject on you, but that's just kind of how I am. Of course I'm just a nobody so these questions may not be perplexing to others.
"My answer to your question is the same for North America. I believe we're dealing with an endangered species. One that is quite possibly on the brink of maintaining a breeding population. Though I have hopes that evidence may be forthcoming (hopefully within the next ten years), There's also a strong possibility that they go extinct without us ever knowing they were here."
So are you saying, that at one time in the not so distant past (3-500 years???) there were maybe 20-40,000 of these creatures walking around N. America, and, that it has been whitemans encroachment upon their land that has expedited their demise? If this is true then would not the Native American stories/legends be more along the lines of a living breathing creature than that of a creature that seems to be more spiritual/mythical in nature? For instance the bear, eagle etc., have always been revered as sacred, strong, respected, and in some cases feared, but, their body parts have always been used in warrior adornments, jewelry, head dresses etc. to show the warriors strength, ability, power, wisdom etc. Why no squatch adornments? In some Native American cultures I believe the bear was even revered as a god, but they still killed it.
Generally speaking animals were the intermediaries between the real world and the supernatural world. There are many, many legends of animals in Native American culture that are fairly mythical in yet we know that the animal existed simply because parts of that animal were used in everyday life, food, clothing, adornments etc. Why no squatch?
Most of my knowledge in regards to Native Americans is curtailed to the west coast, particularly Wa. State so I will use the Makah as an example for this question. Many suggest that the reason no one (with the opportunity) has killed a squatch is because they look too human. My knowledge of the Makah tells me that they would not have had a problem with this. It's well known that the Makah not only scalped members of neighboring tribes but also on occasion would cut their heads off and put it them on stakes in front of their lodge, if you look at the first photo I posted that is a head dress of scalps. They did this for pretty much the same reasons I stated above, to show the warriors strength, ability, power, success etc. Why no squatch head/scalps? One would think that 500 years ago with such a large population of squatch they would have crossed paths quite frequently.
Imagine if you would the implications or the mojo of the warrior who wears a necklace of squatch teeth and the head dress of its scalps. It seems fairly reasonable IMO that if a warrior had the opportunity to kill a sasquatch, he would have. At the very least one would think that stories of these attempts would have been passed down from generation to generation. Most Native stories (that I am familiar with) in regards to this creature have to do with the Shaman and good vs.evil a slightly more mythical slant as compared to real world reality.
Anyone?
BTW here's a pic when its legs are not quite so bent and back not quite so slouched over. Try to find one where it is standing completly upright so we can see the arms true length. Good luck with that one.
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