Bigfoot, also known as Sasquach, is a large, hairy humanoid that allegedly lives in the northwestern United States and western Canada. The first alleged evidence of Bigfoot’s existence in North America was a set of footprints, discovered by British explorer David Thompson in 1811 (Britannica). The name Sasquach is said to be an Anglicization of the name Sasq’ets, which comes from the Halq’emeylem language of the First Nations peoples. Sightings of Bigfoot in Oregon can be traced back to 1904, when settlers reported seeing hairy wild men. Hunters and miners in the following decades reported seeing similar creatures, the latter of which famously claimed to have been attacked by “giant apes” in 1924. However, settlers are not the only ones who claim to have seen these humanoid creatures. Some Native Americans in coastal Oregon have claimed that Bigfoot is the ancient wild men from their tales. Others claim that he was a “stick Indian,” which was a being who “stole salmon or confused people by whistling, causing them to become lost,” (Robert Walls, Bigfoot (Sasquach) Legend). The term “wildman” to describe Bigfoot is interesting, considering this word has been used to describe any hairy, humanoid creatures throughout the world. The word was most notably used quite often in the European Middle Ages, where it was a figure in local village tales and performances until the 20th century (Gregory Forth, Images of the Wildman Inside and Outside Europe).
Perhaps the most famous Bigfoot sighting occurred in California in October 1967, when Bob Gimlin and Roger Patterson witnessed a dark, hairy humanoid walking in front of them. This humanoid was caught on film, in what has now been dubbed the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film. The video is rather short and does not have the highest quality, but many point to it as one of the best pieces of evidence proving Bigfoot’s existence (CBC News). Edits of this video can be found on YouTube. It has also been used in shows such as Finding Bigfoot, which can also be found on YouTube.
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Bigfoot is arguably one of the most well-known cryptids in North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, so it is not surprising that there are many groups dedicated to researching him. One such group is the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, or the BFRO. The group was founded in 1995, and they claim to be the "only scientific research organization exploring the bigfoot/sasquatch mystery," according to their website. People can become members of this group through invitation, which can only happen after meeting an existing member of the BFRO. According to their website, the best way to meet member of the organization is joining them on expeditions, which are open to non-members. These expeditions take place in the U.S. and Canada and they typically last three to four days.
There are also many online groups and forums dedicated to discussing Bigfoot. There is an entire archive online called, "The Bigfoot Forums," which include a variety of discussion boards, news articles, and information about Bigfoot and potential conferences with fellow believers. There are also many, many Facebook groups dedicated to Bigfoot. Many of these groups are private, which means that only members are allowed to interact with or see the posts. However, there are many groups that are open to the public, which allow people to share different pictures, video, and information. But not every post is about evidence surrounding Bigfoot. Some groups, such as the Oregon Bigfooters, will discuss their favorite Bigfoot movies or TV shows, or other things that are Bigfoot-related. Either way, the main thing driving these groups are their collective love of Bigfoot.
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In addition to online forums and expeditions, some people interact at Bigfoot Conferences. Many of these conferences took place this year, including The Smokey Mountain Bigfoot Conference, the Ohio Bigfoot Conference, and Hocking Hills Bigfoot Conference, just to name a few. There are also multiple conferences already scheduled for next year. These conferences have quite a few things in common. Obviously, there is the fact that all of these conferences are meant for people who believe in, or research, Bigfoot, also known as "Squachers" or "Bigfooters." However, another thing these conferences have in common are the guest speakers. Many of these conferences feature panels with Bigfoot researchers and investigators. Other conferences, such as the Honobia Bigfoot Festival and Conference, also feature live music, games, and other various forms of entertainment; however, they still feature events where people can gather around and share their stories and evidence. These conferences are open to the public, including believers and non-believers, alike. Many of these conferences actively encourage non-believers to attend in order to get a sense of what goes on in the community.