Media Article:

Bigfoot Buzz

Column in The First Perspective Newsletter, The Drum

with Terence Sakohianisaks Douglas

Sasquatch at Norway House, Manitoba

On April 16, 2005, an extraordinary event took place at Norway House, Manitoba; an alleged Sasquatch was captured on video camera. I use the term "alleged" because while all indications point towards a credible encounter, the resultant video footage of the alleged Sasquatch was simply not of high enough quality or resolution to make a positive identification. Although the mainstream media built the whole encounter and video footage up into a "find of the century", not much concrete action took place towards proving or disproving the existence of the Sasquatch, which is unfortunate.

After the glaring lights of the media cameras had departed, the Sasquatch reports continued to roll in from the Norway House area. Within the Sasquatch field of investigation, it is a rare occurrence for repeated sightings of a Sasquatch in the same general area. However, this has been occurring at Norway House since that spring day in 2005, and has occurred as recently as July 2006. The following article presents some of the reports of alleged Sasquatch sightings that have taken place in and around Norway House both past and present.

The information that I am presenting is second-hand as I have unfortunately been unable to speak with any of the witnesses involved. However, I present the information that I do have without any warranty as to its validity and will let the reader make up their own mind.

Poplar River Encounter in 1976 

Poplar River is approximately 150 km south of Norway House, and in 1976 was the location of a number of alleged Sasquatch sightings. According to a 1976 RCMP report of the incidents, as found on the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization website, many residents of the Poplar River First Nation had many sightings of a "large hairy animal that walks on two legs".

After interviewing several people at the First Nation, the RCMP report stated the general consensus among witnesses was that the animal was seven to eight feet tall, very broad but with the general body structure of a man, yet many times larger, and had gray glossy fur with white hair on its head. A cast of a footprint allegedly left by the animal measured 16 inches by 5 inches, but only had three toes. The RCMP report concludes that "this so-called monster seemed very inquisitive towards the people and would come around the houses on the settlement and look into doors and windows." I do not know about the readers, but that last bit of information gives me the creeps; think of that next time your sleeping at night in the bush!

Norway House - April 16, 2005

As previously mentioned, a Norway House ferry operator took video footage of an alleged Sasquatch as it walked across the far side of the river in the early morning hours of April 16, 2005. Apparently, the ferry operator had been hearing peculiar noises for a while during his early morning shift and decided to bring his new camcorder with him to capture these noises. On the day in question he was rewarded for his foresight and was able to take shoot video from a distance of a large, furry creature walking along the bank of the river. While the footage is blurry and unable to be enhanced to any great degree, it appears that the creature is approximately 3 metres or 9 feet tall.

While this footage generated plenty of attention towards Norway House and the possibility of a resident Sasquatch, not much further information was forthcoming. The ferry operator, tired of the constant attention from outside people, did not grant many interviews after the video was shown on the U.S. television show A Current Affair, and the "expedition" put together by the television show to track down the Sasquatch in the video came up with nothing. Quite naturally, the story of the Sasquatch in the Norway House area died down; but that was not the end of the Sasquatch in that neck of the woods.

Post April 16, 2005 Encounters 

On May 20, 2005, at around 7:30-8:00pm, a number of young girls from Paupanekis Point had an encounter with an alleged Sasquatch. While near the woods, the girls noticed a huge creature standing in plain view watching them as they played. The creature was standing in high grass that bordered the woods, and though none of the children were injured by the creature, they were quite shaken by the whole experience.

Immediately following this sighting, a search party was formed to investigate the surrounding area and look for the creature. While the creature was not seen, footprints were found both where the actual sighting occurred, and a little deeper into the woods. These footprints measured larger than a man's size 16 shoe, and were extensively photographed.

The following stories have just been passed on to me by the usual writer of the BigfootBuzz, Lynnel Sinclair. I have not had the opportunity to speak with any of the people involved, and so only have very brief descriptions of what happened. If any of the people involved would like to provide me with additional information, it would be greatly appreciated if you contacted me via the email listed at the bottom of this article.

Sometime during the last part of June, early part of July 2006, a family in Norway House heard noises outside their house one night. Thinking it may have been a bear or other such creature messing about, they decided to go outside to investigate the cause of the noise. Once outside, there were able to see an alleged Sasquatch which promptly left the area. In addition, upon closer examination of the area, a great number of footprints were found. Also in the last little while, three people from Norway House observed an alleged Sasquatch crossing a stream through the community. Unfortunately, I am unaware of any further details or whether any footprints or other physical evidence was found as well.

I have no doubt that Sasquatch sightings within the Norway House area will continue, but what does it mean? Could there be a resident Sasquatch or Sasquatches that live full-time within the forests bordering Norway House? It is quite possible that this is the case. However, without being able to collect more stories of alleged encounters, and following-up and investigating such stories, it is difficult to put forth any theory with any certainty. If anybody in Norway House can provide more details on the above noted stories, or can provide me with additional stories, please email them to me at the address below, and please provide me with contact information so that I may follow-up with them; confidentiality is assured. See you next month.

Whether you believe it is myth, spirit, supernatural, or physical, your responses are welcome here. Please email: bigfootbuzz@taiga-communications.com Meegwetch! Ekosi!

Reprinted with permission of Terence Sakohianisaks Douglas

_____________________________________________________________

To view the original document go to: Bigfoot Buzz

Reprinted under the Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright Law as educational material without benefit of financial gain.