Messages From The Rez
Posted by: Loren Coleman on September 3rd, 2006
People from South Dakota continue to write me about the July-August reports of something, some things, and more being seen by the Oglala Sioux. What are people saying about the Pine Ridge Bigfoot who live there? Here’s a sampling. I don’t have any directly-related Pine Ridge sketches to go with any of this material because no one has sent any to me. Yet.
PynkSpyder writes:
Okay, some things are not being said. I’m from this reservation, and, really, you couldn’t go 5 minutes without the topic coming up during that week.
I heard from an OST officer, who is a good friend to both my father and my uncle, that a few units were able to corner a Bigfoot like creature in Pine Ridge. His description of it was much different from that in the statement. He said it was extremely tall (between 12 and 15 feet), had hair covering its entire body, with the exception of its face which was black, and red eyes. He also said it smelled horrible…like a sewer.
During the same week, there were several reported sightings of creatures, not always the same. I remember there was one incident in Oglala, but that creature was definitely not Bigfoot–it had hooves.
Bigfoot sightings are not at all uncommon on our reservation. In Oglala alone, I know of 3 sightings just last year. Bigfoot is part of our beliefs. It’s said that whenever one appears, it’s a bad omen. It’s bringing news of a tragedy that’s going to happen, or it’s giving a warning.
Finally, I think you guys are a little confused. Tall Man and Bigfoot are not the same thing. “Tall Man” is something from old stories–bad spirits of giants, who once roamed the Earth, but became so arrogant that they challenged the thunder and lost. Bigfoot, on the other hand, is not bad. I have many family members who have seen Tall Men, and they are definitely not the same thing as Bigfoot.
Writing from Pine Ridge, ummmok says:
To all of you confused people, that have absolutely no clue to what is happening here on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I live here and there was never a bigfoot shot and taken to the School of Mines and Technology. For those of you that know absolutely nothing about our culture, there are things out there. We might not know that they are or where they came from, but we know not to mess with them. They are here for a reason when they are. This “Tall Man” that you all are talking about, he is a “SPIRIT”, something that can not be shot.
Last Month, was the first time that this “Tall Man”, was seen here on this reservation. I know for a fact that it’s a spirit because my own little brother seen it with his own eyes. When he seen it, it was 2:00 in the morning. He was sitting outside our house in my mom’s truck and he came into our house and he was so scared, he looked white. He told us that he was talking to some girls that live in the house next to ours and when he was going to get out to go in our house. One of those girls seen something lookin in their house window and one of those girls, said ‘hey’, really loud and when they said that,that thing looked right at my brother and those girls took off.
When this “TallMan” was looking at my brother he froze and could not move until it left. He told us that it went running towards the creek. He did say that it was about 12-15 feet tall. He said that it took like three steps and it was gone over the hill across from our house. My brother and the girls that live next door were not the only oncs to see this “TallMan”. There were alot more people that seen in the next few days. There was not only one “TallMan”, that was seen here on this reservation. There were nights when the cops were chasing these “TallMen” around. But they could only chase him. He was too big and too fast to be caught. Do you serioulsy think that you could catch a spirit? If you think that you can. You must be CRAZY!
If you want to come to our reservation and run around like some mad people looking for something that you are “NEVER” going to find or see. GO AHEAD! I DARE YOU! But let me tell you one thing, these “TALLMEN”, are not to be bothered or messed with. SO there is the truth to your “BIGFOOT” story. Just remember that there “NEVER” was a Bigfoot shot on this reservation. Believe me, if there was you people would think that you were the first to know, when you would be the last. Well that’s it for now!
Finally, in a message from itsrainingangeltears, the emails conveys these thoughts:
I am from the reservation and no one has killed Bigfoot. This is all just a silly rumor! As for your intentions on capturing one of these blessed beings- good luck. You have a better chance of surviving in space without oxygen.
The following drawing is from The Field Guide of Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates and is an unknown hairy hominoid seen June 1965, in Canada. Does the Pine Ridge Bigfoot look like this?
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Bigfoot, yes, he could be there. But the 12-15ft spirit thing or “Tallman” sounds like a local myth to me. Probably something told to the kids to keep them from getting in trouble. It sounds like the cops think it was a BF and not some type of spirit.
But who knows, maybe they will get a photo or something. Seems like they would have found a footprint by now though. Or could be someone running around as a hoax or having fun; ah heck who knows!
Good morning Cryptos….
I’ve visited with several of the officers and have exchanged numerous emails…I chatted at length last night with one of the officers involved in the original tribal police sightings.
He is emphatic regarding what he saw…a enormous bipedal creature with reddish body hair whose shoulders were higher that his 4X4 Police SUV headlights illuminated at 5-10 yards…which is pretty damn close.
Many of these tribal officers are using their off duty time and resources to gather evidence….of a large sasquatch….not some ethereal spirit manifestation…JMHO
Remember these are federally trained law enforcement officers…most of them former Army or Marine Corp Vets…most all with Combat Infantryman Badges.
seeing is believing…No bucks…No bigfoot…
ole bub and the dawgs
I sense a bit of hostility in Ummmok’s email. I do have one question about the “Tallman”. If this is a spirit that everyone fears and no one can hurt or touch, why does it run away?
I am surprised that you are not there yet Loren. It sounds like a great opportunity. If I could afford to go right now- I would in a heartbeat.
I wish the reality was different, but I cannot afford to hop in a plane or drive to every breaking cryptozoo situation, of course. Also, there has been the important matters of the Maine Mutant and single father issues that have kept me closer to home.
BTW, it would be a 4043 miles for a round trip from my home in Maine to Oglala, South Dakota and back; this would not be a small undertaking.
First of all they claim they see bigfoot then they claim they shot the poor creature they steal the body bring it to an undisclosed location, now they claim its a spirit of some kind, obviously a nice collabarated hoax i must say, i will believe it when i see a photo, only if its a CLEAR photo.
Well, this talk of spirits and such is certainly putting this out into the realm of the paranormal. If this is the case , it would take its place among myths and legends, not as a subject of cryptozoology. But something is going on there, these police officers are trained to be observant and analytical of these kinds of sightings. I am really quite curious as to what exactly is going on over there at Pine Ridge.
be careful, guys. One man’s myth is another man’s reality. You have to tread a fine line to avoid needlessly offending someone. Is Ummok’s post a bit hostile? Yes, but wouldn’t you be if a bunch of people a thousand miles away kept calling everything you believe in a myth, and finding alternate interpretations of what you and your neighbours are saying?
When I talk about myth, and I’ve got the impression that a lot of other people here do this too, I’m not necessarily referring to the veracity of the story in question, but the belief or belief system itself, regardless of its claims to reality. I suppose that’s a common mode of speech for scientists and scholars, armchair or otherwise. In my experience though, most people equate myth with falsehood, and take it quite personal when you call their beliefs myths, because to them you’re saying that they can’t be true.
Just food for thought…
Though I have alot of respect for native american culture, I have a hard time seeing sasquatch as anything other than flesh and bone.
If this was a ‘squatch, and if the police did corner it with vehicles and lights, that may be the last they’ll see of it for a while.
PS – my own shoulders are higher than a 4×4 SUV’s headlights. The subject would not have to be 12-15 feet tall to accomplish that.
Mnynames, you are absolutely right: Indian beliefs are not “myths”. They may constitute a different reality, but they are NOT “myths” or “superstitions”.
My religious tradition, Bön, also recognizes a myriad of spirit beings. Ever had problems with a naga, a water spirit that is mischievous and sometimes downright dangerous? I have.
I have the utmost respect for different myths of different cultures. I presently live in Japan and there are many myths and legends, realities, whatever you want to call them, that I have the sincerest respect for. My approach to this as a cryptozoological phenomena and a biological explanation is in no way a disrespect to those myths. One might believe in a lot of miraculous things, but do those things have a basis in cryptozoology? Not necessarily. This is not to say their myth or reality is bad or wrong, but I am looking at this Pine Ridge phenomena as a living creature, this is why I am discussing it in this forum.
Mystery Man, I think most of us here are approaching this from the same perspective, and in no way wished to suggest that we were not being respectful. What I wished to point out, however, was that the words we use may needlessly alienate those who would better serve us as allies.
Let us not forget, though, that the flip side of my previous statement must also be true- those same people should respect our viewpoints too, even if they disagree with them. Where this gets us into difficulty is the outsider factor- what right have we to make a judgement on something we’ve never experienced, in a place we’ve never been? It behooves us to be cautious with our words.
As I said, it’s a thin, thin line, and everybody crosses it at some time or another.
Yes, I see where you’re coming from. That is a good thing to keep in mind. I agree. We should be careful with what we say and how we say it for there are many ways of looking at things. I respect these beliefs but perhaps I look at them with too much the scientific eye and in the process may say something that comes across the wrong way. I tell ya, I read great comments and ideas on here everyday and my way of thinking is always evolving. Thanks for giving us something to think about, Mnynames.
At what point though is self-censorship counter-productive to conversation?
Personally I come from a Christian tradition that I believe in whole-heartedly. But in an academic context (and in my own word choice) the biblical creation story and the scientific view of the Big Bang are both “creation myths”.
It doesn’t matter which I personally subscribe to, both are myths in that they are stories used to attempt to explain the unexplainable within a certain culture or sub-culture.
I’ll be the first to say ‘respect local beliefs’ and ‘don’t make fun of local dialect or speech patterns,’ etc., lest you lose the real meat of a story. (Heck, I’m from eastern Kentucky, I know all about having your opinions dismissed simply because you speek with a drawl.)
But we can’t let ourselves be intimidated into not discussing a subject simply because someone may be offended or confused by the use of proper nomenclature.