Exploring Native American Bigfoot Legends with Forest Archaeologist Kathy String

In a recent video from the YouTube channel Grizzly Is On The Hunt, hosts Val and Chris sit down with Kathy Strain, a forest archaeologist and author, to discuss her book "Giants, Cannibals, and Monsters: Bigfoot in Native Culture." Kathy's book is a collection of traditional stories from Native Americans throughout the United States and Canada about their belief systems regarding Bigfoot. She explains that these stories were recorded by anthropologists in the early 1900s and predate the modern-day Bigfoot craze. During the interview, Kathy explains that the title of her book is based on the different relationships that various tribes had with Bigfoot. Some tribes viewed Bigfoot as Giants, while others saw them as cannibals or monsters. She notes that these delineations are based on the tribes' experiences and interactions with Bigfoot. Val brings up the topic of the Prairie people, a group of large, powerful individuals who were said to have lived in the Great Lakes region in the 1700s. Kathy notes that she is not familiar with the term, but that there are many stories of large, powerful beings in Native American folklore. Kathy also discusses the belief among some tribes that Bigfoot would steal human children as a food source. She notes that this belief is widespread across the United States and is not limited to one region. Towards the end of the interview, Kathy talks about Bigfoot behavior and what it might mean if someone hears tree knocking in the woods. She explains that tree knocking is a form of communication used by Bigfoot and that it can mean different things depending on the context. Overall, the interview with Kathy Strain provides valuable insight into the role that Bigfoot plays in Native American culture and the various ways that different tribes have interacted with and viewed this elusive creature. Be sure to check out the full video on Grizzly Is On The Hunt's YouTube channel and pick up a copy of Kathy's book for a deeper dive into this fascinating topic.