Poll Results: American Indians And The Paranormal

I’ve had a poll up for awhile now, asking: Anomalous Researchers: Are You of Native Descent? I did this because the meme is that those with American Indian blood are more prone to UFO, psychic and paranormal experiences, and/or are drawn to them. The poll isn’t to be taken all that seriously, it isn’t scientific in any way, just a casual question.

69 people responded (thank you!) and here are the results:

Yes, enrolled in tribe: (9%)

Yes: (38%)

No: (46%)

Don't know: (7%)

Total Votes: 69

I’m not sure what to make of the “don’t know” and come to think of it, I don’t know why I included that. So by a teeny margin, it seems there is a majority who are Native that are involved in this field.

I’ve been working on an idea for some time, but haven’t figured out yet what to do with it exactly; what direction to take. And that’s the area of Native American myths, issues and the overall culture in the UFO and paranormal field. There’s a combination of appropriation, exploitation, sensationalism, marginalization, trivialization, and respect by those who “use” Native American traditions in their work. There are many who claim to be Indian who aren’t. Well, we can’t make that assumption, but one often wonders for obvious reasons. there are a lot of self styled medicine men, shamans and guides out there who have questionable backgrounds in this regard.

There’s the cliché of the haunted house or building or area being on “old Native burial grounds” and yet, this is the case many times. During the spiritualist seance days, it was common for the medium to have a deceased American Indian as their guide.

Treated with a sort of spiritual awe and envy, even while being trivialized and exploited, the Native American culture continues to be a theme in paranormal matters.

So, where I’m going with this I’m not sure yet. (Yes, I consider myself Native, of Lenape and Cherokee descent.)

Thanks for voting, and now here’s the next poll.

JREF Complains About "Censorship" at Cryptomundo

Some members of the JREF are complaining about what they see as censorship from Cryptomundo.

What I love is the typical response of the faux skeptic, when they are ignored, and that is the “it’s obvious woos/Bigfoot believers/UFO witnesses etc. fear what skeptics have to say” routine.

Read about it here.

A Navajo Bigfoot Story

This was sent to me by a good friend of mine, who is the creator of The Granmother's Circle Gathering here in Eugene. She had fowarded this to me from one of her contacts.

CHINLE, Ariz., Jan. 31, 2008

I don't pick up hitchhikers for free.

They either have to teach me a Navajo word I don't already know, or tell me a story.

Lately, I have been hearing the same story so often, with so many variations, I'm beginning to wonder if it's true.

It is the story of a creature I've come to call "the Navajo Bigfoot." According to at least five different hitchhikers I have picked up over the last three years, there is a Bigfoot-like creature roaming in the Navajo Nation.

It is about 7 feet tall, black, hairy and apelike, and has feet about a foot-and-a-half long. None of the hitchhikers had actually seen it, but they all knew people who had.

Most people seem to think it resides somewhere between Summit and Fluted Rock, but a man from Navajo Mountain swore it lives somewhere up there. (Maybe there are two.) Footprints have allegedly been found as far south as Klagetoh.

Some folks say the creature has supernatural powers. It reportedly appears at some gatherings, and one man told me several friends of his at a ceremonial gathering saw it appear and then vanish into thin air.

The Bigfoot might have been around a very long time. A middle-aged man remembered his father telling stories of such a creature, saying it appears when times are about to get really bad.

But, if it is something supernatural, it apparently still needs to eat.

A woman told me all the ranchers near Fluted Rock know about the monster, because they will find dead sheep that appear to have been partially butchered with some kind of blunt knife. And the giant footprints are sometimes around.

A man I picked up near Ganado said a neighbor of his had chased it across Highway 264 on horseback once, but it was so fast that it got away.

Another guy said he visited one of the Apache reservations and was surprised to find they have similar stories ... except the Apache Bigfoot is white while the Navajo one is black.

I'm not saying I believe these stories ... for all I know, there's some kind of conspiracy among the hitchhikers to pull one over on hapless drivers.

All I'm saying is, if I'm driving late at night and some big, hairy, barefoot guy sticks out his thumb on the side of the road, I'm going to keep driving - unless he has a mighty good story.

Bigfoot Threads: 10, and counting . . .

I stopped counting after ten -- ten threads (that I counted, may be more, or, not) on JREF. I missed this one the other day about Bigfoot on Mars.

Bigfoot Kisses Santa: More Bigfoot Threads on JREF

As if five, or however many it is, Bigfoot threads on the James Randi Forum aren't enough, here are three more that have cropped up recently:

Creekfreak’s Bigfoot hair samples and other non-photo related claims.

Native American Myths/Traditions Support Bigfoot? A critical look

I Saw Bigfoot Kissing Santa Claus

From The Olympian: Explorer Retells Bigfoot Sighting of ‘67

That’s 1967. Robert Gimlin, of Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot “Patty” fame, spoke to a group recently about his Bigfoot sighting. You can read about it here.

Vintage "Gag" Postcard of Lake Monster

Joke vintage postcard. I found this on the blog of wondrous delights: Dr. Fong's House of Mysteries.

More Nazis From Cryptomundo

Wait, that didn't sound right. I meant, another item on Nazis and the Fortean from Cryptomundo, this time, Nazis and the Yeti. (One wonders what the Nazis would have done with a Yeti if they found it.) Interesting post, as always.

Nazi Racoons

Really, Nazi Racoons. Read about it on Cryptomundo.

Bigfoot Sightings of East Alabama

Finished the booklet; not much to read, but what's there is interesting. Local accounts of Bigfoot sightings, and UFOs in seeming connection, in the area. What I like about the book is the fact that an individual is interested/obsessed enough (not necessarily a bad thing) to self publish a little collection of regional accounts. It all adds to the data. There are typos and sometimes a few things aren't clear; that's due to grammar and the way it's presented, I think. The illustrations are very simple. I don't regret the purchase however, not at all. Things like this are interesting to me from a folklore/collector perspective.

Alabama Bigfoot Booklet

My copy of Bigfoot Sightings of East Central Alabama came today. Haven't had a chance to read it yet. It's a self published book; photocopied pages, folded over, stapled book. (Nothing wrong with that; I did a comb binding on my little bigfoot book years ago, sold a few on eBay, ....) I'll report more when I've finished the book.

On Biofort: Lawndale "Thunderbird" Should Have Been Déjà Vu

Scott Maruna's blog, Biofort, has a good piece on Thunderbird sightings, and specifically, on a the Lawndale family's famous experience.

Book: Bigfoot Dreams

Do they mean Bigfoot dreams, as in, has dreams, or that one dreams of Bigfoot? Or does it matter? . . .

Searching e-Bay today for Bigfoot books, found this one titled Bigfoot Dreams. The author is Francine Prose, it was written in 1998. The item description says the novel is about a feminist who writes for a Weekly World News kind of publication, printing stories about “Bigfoot and Elvis.” She gets fired because the things she writes about come true, so she takes off to the Grand Canyon and meets up with Bigfoot her own self. Hmmm. . .

That Makes Five!

Looks like four seperate threads about Bigfoot on the JREF (James Randi Educational Forum) aren’t enough; now a fifth thread has been started. This one is titled Government Bigfoot Cover-up.
I wonder how long this one will last?

Did I Mean It?: A Comment Reconsidered

In Jeremy Vaeni’s recent Culture of Contact interview, I said how I hoped I never would see a Bigfoot. This is what I said:

I myself have never encountered one, and I hope I do not.

I’ve said that before, and mean it. Kind of. But in thinking about it, I wonder. Do I really mean that?

Part of why I said that, I think, is a fear of not being taken seriously. On the other hand, given my UFO/Fortean life, I think I passed that point a long time ago. It is what it is; I am what I am, all that stuff. But I’ve seen UFOs, have had two episodes of missing time, been involved with hauntings, and a lot more high strangeness stuff, all I need is a Bigfoot sighting to add to the pile of weirdness. Then again, why should I worry about what others may think? And about something that hasn’t even happened?

The other reason is fear. But that’s kind of silly too; I don’t think there’d by anything to fear. Not to say I wouldn’t be extremely respectful and cautious, but “fear” -- I hope not.

So I guess I don't feel that way, and actually, would probably feel very honored and blessed if I did see a Sasquatch.

From Boring, Oregon: On "The Big Hairy Guy" in Mt. St. Helens Area

“Bigfoot, You’re Invited to Breakfast”

From Boring, Oregon. Yes, Boring. I’m always interested in any Bigfoot, UFO or other strange story that comes out of Oregon, since I live here myself.

Writer
Chuck Bolsinger, in a piece for the High Country News, recounts his experiences during the Mt. St. Helens eruption in 1980. (I remember that; living in Eugene, Oregon at the time, and seeing ash everywhere on cars, etc.)

The news of the eruption was big then, and made international news. Among the many things related to the eruption was the fate of Harry S. Truman, who refused to leave the area.

Bolsiinger relates his meeting with Truman, who told Bolsinger of “a big hairy guy” that lives in the woods:
“There’s something you boys should know. A Big Hairy Guy hangs out in these woods. Someday you’ll be taping a tree, and a shadow’ll fall on you. He’ll know you’re fixin’ to log his forest, and he’ll be mad.”
Very interesting article!

http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.WOTRArticle?article_id=17446

YETI

The Abominable Snowman and Year of the Yeti

The Cryptomundo blog has a blurb about the new edition of Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life by Ivan T. Sanderson, which includes a preface written by Coleman. In New York, at the Rubin Museum of Art, they’ll be showing the 1957 movie The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas, with Coleman in attendance. Read more here for details.

Speaking of the movie, I’m a big fan of all those mostly black and white monster and flying saucer films from that era. (One of the reasons I started my blog Vintage UFO.) I remember when I first saw The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas, it scared me to death. (I was probably about six or seven.) I remember a scene in a cabin with someone getting ripped apart. I never pass up a chance to watch movies like this when they come on.

The movie stars Forrest Tucker and Peter Cushing. The Internet Movie Database describes Cushing’s character -- Dr. John Rollason -- as the “gentle English botanist” and Tucker, as Dr. Tom Friend, as the “gruff American scientist.”



Here are some quotes from the movie that I like:

Dr. John Rollason: This creature may have an affinity for man, something in common with ourselves. Let's remember that before we start shooting.

Dr. John Rollason: You're nothing but a cheap fairground trickster!

Dr. Tom Friend: They killed him. It was the sound of that howling. He couldn't stand it - it drove him mad.

More from Tobias/Derr: Strange Bigfoot

An Update: For A Small Fee . . .

Maybe I was too harsh. I always feel bad when I “sneer” although that’s not what my intent was in posting the earlier piece. I admitted I’m a snob when it comes to writing styles; all that run on sentence stuff, with little or incorrect punctuation, just throws me off. And I admit the “for a small fee” comment got to me as well. Tobias insists that if any field researchers decide to pursue this and want to contact the witness, a fee for the photos (there are more) is required. Tobias has the contact information for the witness. See here for my first post on this.

I also don’t feel comfortable giving my phone number out to someone I’ve just me on-line; or getting that close to someone right off.

Still, Steve Tobias/Derr sent me another e-mail today, thanking me for the “fair” article I posted here yesterday. He explained himself a bit more about the “for a small fee” and sent me two images, which you can see here.

I can’t really say anything about this case, since I haven’t spoken directly with anyone involved,haven’t been to the site, or done any research at all. But it is interesting in the body of “weird Bigfoot data” and for that, here it is. I’m also, as always, interested in the people involved in things like this. A true report of very weird things, a mistake or misinterpretation of events, a hoax, whatever it may be, it’s clear Tobias is passionate about UFOs and this topic. That’s clear from reading his posts that appear all over the internet; he feels strongly enough to share his views and spread the word.

And I do thank him for replying and sending the photos.

Okay, so what about the case itself? We have:

UFOs and lights connected with a Bigfoot sighting

Photos (two of which are here)

a dead calf up in a tree

coyotes won’t go near the body

dead animals all over the place

Bigfoot type creature, referred to as “Ol Shaggy”

Sounds of tree hitting

footprints (were casts made?)

Bait left out for Shaggy taken

Tobias/Derr is “ex-military” (air force)

Case “shunned by media,” when submitted by Tobias/Derr

estimated 9ft creature seen and photographed

Creature disappeared “in a flash” when gun was aimed at it

The area in the daytime, photo courtesy of Tobias.


Early evening, as one of the encounters was happening, with light in distance. The dead calf was found in the tree:


Derr’s thoughts on Bigfoot, stated in the earlier post, there is no “real” Bigfoot:

the truth on Bigfoot is easy to give you... the situation is that aliens will wear some type of costume to resemble a hairy ape creature rather than allow humans to see their recon units in their actual appearance ( as obviously alien) . the reason there is no credible reason to assume Bigfoot is real is due to the natural reproduction cycle on earth of creatures...

Personally, I have no problem with paranormal/supernatural Bigfoot, but this is a new one, and seems -- forgive me -- silly. His thoughts on Bigfoot as some kind of sentry or scout sent by aliens isn’t a new one however; see some of the accounts in Peter Guittilla’s Bigfoot Files book, for example.

Another comment I found interesting was this one:

I sent you a few pictures .. you can see if you look the trajectory of something moving very fast .. have now also found dead coyotes , squirrels , birds , fish in a pond for absolutely no reason .. think itsa sterilization practice run ?

The comment about the trajectory is interesting, and for some reason reminds me of events at the Skinwalker ranch, as recounted in the book Hunt for the Skinwalker.

One theory about cattle mutilations is one involving the government: government testing of livestock to monitor radiation, fallout, levels of poisons and chemicals in the environment, etc. Is there a connection here in some way?

Bigfoot in Arkansas
There's a report of a "Wild Man" in Arkansas from 1851, courtesy of the Bigfoot Encounters site.

And of course there's the Fouke Monster, the Bigfoot like creature that was seen frequently in the late 1960s and the '70s. There was a movie made in 1972:Legend of Boggy Creek about the sightings.

Culture of Contact: Jeremy Vaeni Interview

Do I come out and finally acknowledge I've been abducted? Do I sound like Minnie Mouse or Ertha Kitt? Find out on Culture of Contact!

Bigfoot: One of Seven Fortean Wonders of the World

Bigfoot/Yeti (and I'd include Yowie of course) is among the 7 Fortean Wonders of the World.