Sasquatch Chronicles Blog

Mar 25

Native American Sasquatch Names

Casey sent this to me and I found it interesting how native different tribes gave these creatures names and how you can look at the translation of the names. Do you think the native people came up with a name as a way of describing the creatures behavior or perceived behavior?
NAME                                                     TRIBE                                                     TRANSLATION
1.Sasahevas                                           Salish Indian                                          “Sasquatch”
2.Oh Mah                                               Hoopa Indian                                         “Boss of the Woods”
3.Windago                                              Eastern Athabascan Indian                    “Wicked Cannibal”
4.Tso apittse                                           Shoshone Indian                                    “Cannibal Giant”
5.Kecleh-Kudleh                                      Cherokee Indian                                    “Hairy Savage”
6.Yayaya-ash                                          Klamath Indian                                      “The Frightener”
Please click here for a full list

14 Responses to “Native American Sasquatch Names”

  1. Steven B

    For the most part, it would seem that the names are a way of describing the creature’s behavior or perceived behavior. Please correct me if I misunderstand, but didn’t the Native Americans usually name animals/places in this manner?

    I looked at the full list and I see the name the Iroquois had means “Stone Giant”. I remember watching a video where they told of these “giants with stone armor” would come and raid their villages and kill people by ripping off their heads. I would imagine a Sasquatch covered in dried mud or clay would have the appearance of “stone armor”.

  2. Karen D

    Thanks for posting….its interesting that the people that for thousands of years that had to share the same habitat as “Sasquatch”……never gave them any “friendly giant brothers of the forest” type names.
    I think its important to add these names into the continuing search for more clearer understanding !
    Every piece of the puzzle added , helps the picture become more complete. 🙂

  3. Tyler D

    You would hear it more in the Pacific Northwest and Canada about these things being cannibals and kidnapping people. It’s amazing that these Natives knew this kinda stuff for hundreds of years n we still can’t figure out how all these people go missing in rural areas. But I also have heard in more of the Midwest of the United States the native people there said that they would trade with these beings and had more peaceful interactions with these things. I guess it all depends on the area

  4. Papa - Yeti

    Zuni Indian – Atahsaia – meaning (“The Cannibal Demon”) /// Quinault Indians – Skukum – meaning (“Devil of the Forest”) /// Lenni Lenape Indian – Wsinkhoalican – meaning (“The Game Keeper”) /// Wenatchee Indian – Choanita – meaning (“Night People”) ///

    And here is one that find really interesting – Yakama / Klickitat Indian – Oui Yihahs – Meaning (“The FIVE Brothers”) In that perhaps in reference of the tribe classified ‘Five Sasquatch Types’ ??? Speculation upon my part, but if so, if there are five types, then S.C. is missing one of the Sasquatch types. (Could it be the actual Dog or Wolf headed Creature? The Beast of Briar Road (The Creature first reported in 1936, on a rural road outside of Elkhorn, Wisconsin? – the Northern Minnesota Wolf –Man – (Wolf – Squatch)and is there a type 6, or type 7 elsewhere in the world?).

  5. Carol S

    I agree. I think there are many things we learn about these creatures by examining native lore and legend. The hard part is discerning between their stories with spiritual/ ritusal aspects and the tales that may be a true rue recounting of these things.

  6. Brian R

    To me this list makes it pretty simple. Either bigfoot exists or every native tribe that has occupied this land across geography and time has independently (mostly) made up, out of thin air, an untrue mythical story about the same creature and given it a name and in most cases similar traits. Occam’s razor time. Good post.

  9. Kay S

    Devil, cannibal, evil, wicked, very descriptive terms used by many of the tribes. The native peoples knew BF was not to be messed with. Those that feed and ‘wish/try’ to befriend BF should take note.

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