First Nations Bigfoot Legend: Atshenash
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on July 20th, 2007
I found an interesting video on youtube that retold a First Nations story of a Bigfoot-like creature.
I went to my go to source for all Native American and First Nations Bigfoot/Sasquatch legends, folklore and tradions, Kathy Strain of the AIBR, the Alliance of Independent Bigfoot Researchers. Kathy will be speaking at the upcoming 2007 Texas Bigfoot Conference.
Manuapesh, the great Innu hunter, was given the task of battling Atshenash, the fearsome man of the woods to protect his people. He fought with Atshenash and almost lost, but due to his great strength, he overcame the wildman and caged him. That is how Atshenash was captured. – Traditional Innu Story
The Innu are a First Nations people from eastern Quebec and Labrador, Canada. Their traditional word for a bigfoot-like creature is Atshenash. In this story, Atshenash is very powerful and clearly viewed by the tribe as a threat. Manuapesh, by being strong and persistent, overcomes this power. The moral? The strength of humans can trump the power of nature.
So, does this story mean that bigfoot is a real creature? He certainly is to the Innu and for me, that’s enough.
I hope you enjoy this story, told in the traditional Innu-aimum language. May you be more like Manuapesh than Atshenash!
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
Wonderful and fascinating. Thanks, Craig, and thanks to Ms. Strain as well.
Kool story… I kinda find it hard to believe though… This Manuapesh had to be one HUGE Indian… I mean Adre the Giant Huge or even bigger… Maybe he got some extra strenthg from his fore fathers… Still kinda hard to believe…