Bigfoot: Indigenous Guardian of Western Canada's Wilderness

In a fascinating video from the YouTube channel Hudson Grey, we are taken on a journey through the rich and complex lore surrounding Bigfoot or Sasquatch as told by the indigenous peoples of western Canada. I was captivated by the depth of these stories and the spiritual significance they hold for many First Nations communities. The video begins with the Sts’ailes people, who reside near the Harrison River in British Columbia. Their word for Sasquatch is “sásq’ets,” which means “wild man” or “hairy man” in their language. The Sts’ailes believe sásq’ets is a guardian of the forest, deeply connected to the spiritual world. Encounters with this being are considered profound and often interpreted as a sign or warning. Moving further north, the Haida people of Haida Gwaii have their own Wildman Legend, known as “gagi.” Unlike sásq’ets, gagi is a tragic figure, one who loses their humanity through isolation. This story speaks to the deep relationship between people and the wilderness and the belief that the forest can change a person’s very soul. Among the Coast Salish people, who inhabit regions in British Columbia including Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, there are legends of night creatures who should not be named. These beings are believed to lurk in the shadows, and invoking their name could summon them. In many Coast Salish Tales, Sasquatch is a nocturnal being, one that embodies the mystery and danger of the night. The video also explores the belief that Sasquatch is a shape-shifter, with the ability to transform into both human and animal form. This belief highlights Sasquatch’s power over nature, as it can navigate both worlds seamlessly. However, not all stories view Sasquatch as benevolent. In some First Nations cultures, it’s seen as a menacing or even cannibalistic figure. The Tahltan people of Northern British Columbia tell of a creature known as kushtaka, a shape-shifting being that lures people away into the wilderness. I find the consistency of these stories across different indigenous cultures to be compelling. Despite the differences in their cultures, languages, and geography, these First Nations peoples all speak of a large humanlike being connected to the wilderness. This raises the question of whether these widespread and consistent legends point to a deeper reality. Whether Sasquatch is a physical creature roaming the dense forests and mountain ranges or a spiritual entity existing beyond our ordinary perception, the consistency of these stories cannot be ignored. It’s as if indigenous peoples across vast regions of Canada are all trying to describe the same enigmatic presence. I encourage all Squatchable readers to watch Hudson Grey’s video and delve into the rich spiritual lore surrounding Bigfoot in Western Canada. These stories remind us of the deep connection between people and the wilderness, and the power, mystery, and danger of nature itself.