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Native American myths/traditions support Bigfoot? A critical look.

ChrisBFRPKY said:
Did it ever occur to you that your conclusions may be wrong? About a great many things.
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It has so occurred to me. But what do you expect my conclusion would be when you make a claim and refuse to back it up? That's why there's such a thing as burden of proof.
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
I'd have to study each culture and language Kit and I don't have the time or desire to do so to find the most likely comparisons. I think it's likely some tribes had interactions with the creatures, sightings etc. I'm not big on trying to tie all Native American legends to Bigfoot though. To do so would be "legend twisting" as described by another poster above.

Only one description has interested me since I am from KY and have first hand knowledge of some of the limited Blackfoot history/culture here. (not the Blackfeet tribe of the West)

That one legend is the "Yeahoh" from Eastern KY. Pronounced "Yayhoo" in modern times. That word "Yeahoh" was shared with my father in the mid 1940's long before any media exposure of "Bigfoot" and described giant large hairy men that lived in the woods.

Although there have been attempts made to associate the "Yeahoh" with Gulliver's Travels, or stories of shipwrecked sailors, it seems to me that since few to none of the Blackfeet could likely read or obtain the book, I doubt they had much exposure to the literature trying to be associated with the legend. And the lack of an ocean here, would make shipwreck survivors another unlikely source.
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As far as I can tell, common thread regarding the folklore of Yeahoh is a hungry hunter comes across a cave inhabited by the hairy wildwoman Yeahoh who shares deer meat with him, they cohabitat, have a baby, the man seeks to escape by boat, and the Yeahoh watching the man's escape from shore tears their baby in two. I have not seen anything to suggest that this piece of Appalachian folklore is Native American in origin.

I'm curious as to what evidence you would cite for this being a native myth. Also, I'm not sure which native group you are referring to. Are you referring to the Saponi peoples of what is now Virginia and North Carolina? There is not now nor has there ever been an "Eastern Blackfoot" tribe; the Blackfoot consisting of the plains peoples of the three nations Piikáni (Piegan Blackfoot), Káínaa, Siksikáwa of southern Alberta and northern Montana.

Some version of the tale you refer to are recorded on Bigfoot Encounters...

http://www.bigfootencounters.com/legends/yeahoh.htm

And the Daniel Boone reference from your site...

http://www.bfrpky.com/BOONE.html
 
Kit, the Eastern Blackfeet were not related to the Western tribes at all. These people were decendents of Cherokee and African American origin. According to my Great Grandmother, the Cherokee (some) married African American wives (possibly escaped slaves). The offspring were labelled as "Blackfeet". Since there was no shortage of escaping slaves, the population from such unions grew.

There are two versions of how they split from the Cherokee tribe. One says the Cherokee did not like the offspring of these unions and basically told everyone of that racial mix to get out. Kinda odd IMO because the Cherokee were aware of the problems caused by inbreeding and often kidnapped wives from other tribes to avoid these problems.

The other version tells of the "Blackfoot" leaders coming together over the racial inequalities being displayed toward their children and deciding to leave the Cherokee nation for other grounds. I can see this as reasonable. Nobody wants their kids to be mistreated. And to settle in good hunting grounds also fits.

"Blackfoot" seems to be a term invented by the Cherokee either way as a racial label/slur, much like the whites labelled slaves of that time with various names.

The only reason I became interested in this info is because my Great Grandmother was Blackfoot. It seems my Great Grandfather (white) married a squaw (Blackfoot). She passed on the story of the "Yeahoh" to my father in the mid 1940's as being a legend of the Blackfeet in Eastern KY. She told him of the large hairy men that live in the woods far away from civilization, the tribe was called "the Yeahoh".

What impressed me is that this was long before the Yeti track photos of the 1950's and before the P/G film of the late 1960's. In other words, before mainstream media started to sensationalize Bigfoot.

Since KY was decidedly a hunting ground used by various tribes with no permanent Indian settlements, not much has been looked at regarding Native Americans of KY. The story of the "Yeahoh" and the man in the cave is an Appalachian Legend and it is my belief it sprang from the Blackfeet people of the area.

Either way though it was a legend of the residents of Eastern KY long before Bigfoot hit the mainstream media.

I'm not one to cherry pick to try and tie all Native American descriptions of something hairy as Bigfoot. That's nothing more than opinion without first hand knowledge. There may actually be something to the "yeahoh" legends though that relates to Bigfoot type creatures.
 
LTC8K6 said:
1. get near a bigfoot

2. leave the area immediately

3. write about how you got near a bigfoot

4. profit

5. go to 1
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Profit.........That would be nice but sadly there is no profit in studying Bigfoot for 99.9% of people out there now. There is mostly ridicule.

Now why would someone sign up for a job that pays nothing, requires you to purchase your own equipment, spend years of research, supply your own fuel, vehicle and time for free? Especially since the only reward for the efforts will likely be ridicule?

I still can't figure it out myself, but I think self awareness is about all one can expect to achieve.
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
Profit.........That would be nice but sadly there is no profit in studying Bigfoot for 99.9% of people out there now. There is mostly ridicule.

Now why would someone sign up for a job that pays nothing, requires you to purchase your own equipment, spend years of research, supply your own fuel, vehicle and time for free? Especially since the only reward for the efforts will likely be ridicule?

I still can't figure it out myself, but I think self awareness is about all one can expect to achieve.
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Profit is always in the eye of the beholder, if you will.

The profit can be as simple as being "in" with the footer crowd.

At any rate, you missed the most important point, and a continuing trend in footery.
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
Kit, the Eastern Blackfeet were not related to the Western tribes at all. These people were decendents of Cherokee and African American origin. According to my Great Grandmother, the Cherokee (some) married African American wives (possibly escaped slaves). The offspring were labelled as "Blackfeet". Since there was no shortage of escaping slaves, the population from such unions grew.

There are two versions of how they split from the Cherokee tribe. One says the Cherokee did not like the offspring of these unions and basically told everyone of that racial mix to get out. Kinda odd IMO because the Cherokee were aware of the problems caused by inbreeding and often kidnapped wives from other tribes to avoid these problems.

The other version tells of the "Blackfoot" leaders coming together over the racial inequalities being displayed toward their children and deciding to leave the Cherokee nation for other grounds. I can see this as reasonable. Nobody wants their kids to be mistreated. And to settle in good hunting grounds also fits.

"Blackfoot" seems to be a term invented by the Cherokee either way as a racial label/slur, much like the whites labelled slaves of that time with various names.

The only reason I became interested in this info is because my Great Grandmother was Blackfoot. It seems my Great Grandfather (white) married a squaw (Blackfoot). She passed on the story of the "Yeahoh" to my father in the mid 1940's as being a legend of the Blackfeet in Eastern KY. She told him of the large hairy men that live in the woods far away from civilization, the tribe was called "the Yeahoh".

What impressed me is that this was long before the Yeti track photos of the 1950's and before the P/G film of the late 1960's. In other words, before mainstream media started to sensationalize Bigfoot.

Since KY was decidedly a hunting ground used by various tribes with no permanent Indian settlements, not much has been looked at regarding Native Americans of KY. The story of the "Yeahoh" and the man in the cave is an Appalachian Legend and it is my belief it sprang from the Blackfeet people of the area.

Either way though it was a legend of the residents of Eastern KY long before Bigfoot hit the mainstream media.

I'm not one to cherry pick to try and tie all Native American descriptions of something hairy as Bigfoot. That's nothing more than opinion without first hand knowledge. There may actually be something to the "yeahoh" legends though that relates to Bigfoot type creatures.
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Siksika ('black feet', from siksinam 'black', ka the root of oqkatsh, 'foot'. The origin of the name is disputed, but it is commonly believed to have reference to the discoloring of their moccasins by the ashes of the prairie fires; it may possibly have reference to black-painted moccasins such as were worn by the Pawnee, Sihasapa, and other tribes). An important Algonquian confederacy of the northern plains, consisting of three subtribes, the Siksika proper or Blackfeet, the Kainah or Bloods, and the Piegan, the whole body being popularly known as Blackfeet. In close alliance with these are the Atsina and the Sarsi.

Within the recent historic period, until gathered upon reservations, the Blackfeet held most of the immense territory stretching almost from North Saskatchewan river, Canada, to the southern headstreams of the Missouri in Montana, and from about lon.105° to the base of the Rocky mountains. A century earlier, or about 1790, they were found by Mackenzie occupying the upper and middle South Saskatchewan, with the Atsina on the lower course of the same stream,

You seem to be completely wrong.

Great Granny was having you on. (if she even exists).
 
So even if we take your local Cherokee-derived Blackfoot explanation to be accurate, the legend could have come from the slaves' mythology.

Also, thanks for a spot-on description of birding: millions of us invest inordinate time and money in pursuit of our feathered friends, and the rest of the world thinks we're nuts for doing so.

Hint: bigfooting is no one's job, save some folks who are working over the gullible to make it so. The reason no one can make an honest living off bigfoot is that there is no such thing as Bigfoot.
 
The Shrike said:
Hint: bigfooting is no one's job, save some folks who are working over the gullible to make it so. The reason no one can make an honest living off bigfoot is that there is no such thing as Bigfoot.
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Of course a good campfire story, a blurry image, or a screwy hypothesis (psychic sasquatch/aqua-bigfoot) brings you endless kudos at sites like BFF. Never mind, as you point out, there is no such creature.
 
The Shrike said:
So even if we take your local Cherokee-derived Blackfoot explanation to be accurate, the legend could have come from the slaves' mythology.

Also, thanks for a spot-on description of birding: millions of us invest inordinate time and money in pursuit of our feathered friends, and the rest of the world thinks we're nuts for doing so.

Hint: bigfooting is no one's job, save some folks who are working over the gullible to make it so. The reason no one can make an honest living off bigfoot is that there is no such thing as Bigfoot.
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Very well said sir.
 
Resume said:
You sure?
http://cherokeeblackfeetcultural.bizopiaweb.com/Default.aspx?tabid=668470

Of course all of this is a red herring; there is no objective way of knowing what these various legends and stories depict. Certainly there is no physical evidence that would lead one to conclude that these stories reflect the existence of the NA cryptid known as bigfoot.
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Thank you for posting such an informative site. I'm very pleased to add that one to my favorites for further review. I had thought only oral history remained of the Eastern Blackfeet. This means a lot to me so thanks again.
 
tsig said:
Siksika ('black feet', from siksinam 'black', ka the root of oqkatsh, 'foot'. The origin of the name is disputed, but it is commonly believed to have reference to the discoloring of their moccasins by the ashes of the prairie fires; it may possibly have reference to black-painted moccasins such as were worn by the Pawnee, Sihasapa, and other tribes). An important Algonquian confederacy of the northern plains, consisting of three subtribes, the Siksika proper or Blackfeet, the Kainah or Bloods, and the Piegan, the whole body being popularly known as Blackfeet. In close alliance with these are the Atsina and the Sarsi.

Within the recent historic period, until gathered upon reservations, the Blackfeet held most of the immense territory stretching almost from North Saskatchewan river, Canada, to the southern headstreams of the Missouri in Montana, and from about lon.105° to the base of the Rocky mountains. A century earlier, or about 1790, they were found by Mackenzie occupying the upper and middle South Saskatchewan, with the Atsina on the lower course of the same stream,

You seem to be completely wrong.

Great Granny was having you on. (if she even exists).
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It seems you don't know as much as you think you do. A quick browse on the net doesn't make one an expert in something they know nothing about. As apparently in your case.

P.S. To continually suggest one is a liar or to sink to personal insults is not very productive and can only show that when one results to those measures, they've already lost the argument and are in over their head.
 
The Shrike said:
So even if we take your local Cherokee-derived Blackfoot explanation to be accurate, the legend could have come from the slaves' mythology.

Also, thanks for a spot-on description of birding: millions of us invest inordinate time and money in pursuit of our feathered friends, and the rest of the world thinks we're nuts for doing so.

Hint: bigfooting is no one's job, save some folks who are working over the gullible to make it so. The reason no one can make an honest living off bigfoot is that there is no such thing as Bigfoot.
Click to expand...

It is possible the description could have come from an African American heritage. I base a supposition that the legend may be "Blackfoot" Indian related based on personal knowledge.

The only thing that seems set in fact is that the "Yeahoh" is an Eastern KY Appalachian legend and that it's not recent by any means. And if related to "Blackfoot" Indian legend, is the only Native American legend that interests me personally.

Bird watching seems like a worthy way to spend time in nature. You don't actually kill the birds and bring them back to prove what you've seen I guess. Photos near the top of the canopy should also be crisp and clear.
 
ChrisBFRPKY said:
You don't actually kill the birds and bring them back to prove what you've seen I guess.
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No, that only has to happen the first time somebody needs to prove it was there.

ChrisBFRPKY said:
Photos near the top of the canopy should also be crisp and clear.
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If needed to prove something unusual, yes. Only diagnostic photos will do. If your photo is at all ambiguous, the record will be rejected.
 
This is a voucher photograph.
My camera included GPS coordinates with this photo.
This animal is laying eggs. We don't know if they are fertile eggs.

This species is not native to Michigan.

The specimen lives in Michigan, is laying eggs in Michigan, but scientists can not say they are breeding in Michigan.
This caused quite a ruckus in the Herpetological community in Michigan.
A little digging told us that Henry Ford used to bring turtles back to his estate from his camping trips all over the country. This is probably a remnant specimen from that.

Note, you can clearly make out markings that identify the species as an Eastern River Cooter, no other turtle species in Michigan bear these markings. It is unambiguous.
 

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" P.S. To continually suggest one is a liar or to sink to personal insults is not very productive and can only show that when one results to those measures, they've already lost the argument and are in over their head." - ChrisBFRPKY

Kind of like you when you pretended like you knew the wiki pic was a chimp the whole time, Chris?
 
The Shrike said:
No, that only has to happen the first time somebody needs to prove it was there.
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Interesting thing I learned about some of those that are out to "prove" bigfoot is there. Apparently, NAWAC investigates area x less often and for shorter periods in the winter. When it's cooler. And when there's less foliage.
 
That certainly makes sense in that the only reason people go there is to drink beer, tell stories, and pretend to be brave hunters by shooting trees.

Going there in the winter wouldn't be any fun, even though finding their quarry would be much easier.
 
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