High Desert Museum's Sensing Sasquatch: An Indigenous Perspective

In a recent video from the YouTube channel JPR, Chelsea Rose of Jefferson Public Radio and Southern Oregon University's Laboratory of Anthropology takes us on a tour of the "Sensing Sasquatch" exhibit at the High Desert Museum. As a researcher of natural history, Haley Braer worked on the exhibit and provides insight into the indigenous perspective of Bigfoot. The exhibit begins with a large wall featuring various High Desert landscapes, each accompanied by an indigenous term for Sasquatch. The language map showcases the belief in Bigfoot across different tribes and languages, emphasizing the commonality of this elusive figure. Haley explains that the exhibit aims to present Bigfoot through an indigenous lens, rather than the pop culture icon often depicted in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit features works by indigenous artists, including a pictograph from the Tuli Indian Reservation and a piece by Frank Buffalo Hide, which portrays Sasquatch as an interdimensional being. Holana Cougar Tracks' artwork, a large Sasquatch image, is particularly noteworthy. Holana, an indigenous artist, drew inspiration from her personal encounter with Sasquatch in her younger years. She views Sasquatch as a protector and often refers to it as "she." The exhibit incorporates sensory elements to evoke the overwhelming experience of encountering Sasquatch. While not attempting to create a false encounter, the exhibit encourages visitors to learn about the indigenous perspective and potentially have their own Sasquatch encounter in the future. I am thrilled to share this unique exhibit that highlights the indigenous perspective of Bigfoot. I encourage our readers to watch the video and explore the "Sensing Sasquatch" exhibit for themselves.