Sasquatch History
1818...
Stories of hairy beasts roaming the countryside is not a modern day media anomaly.
1929...
1941...
The abandoned Chapman Cabin at Ruby Creek.
1955...
Sasquatch witness, William Roe
1958...
The original 1958 article, featuring bulldozer operator Jerry Crew, which coined the term "Bigfoot."
1967...
Frame 352 of the 1968 film by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin.
Bob Gimlin & Steve Kulls (2012)
Dr. Jeff Meldrum pointing features of the Skookum Cast.
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Background and Cultural Significance
Sasquatch, commonly known as Bigfoot, is a large, hairy, human-like creature believed to inhabit forested areas of North America, particularly the Pacific Northwest. Its history is deeply rooted in Native American folklore, with many tribes, such as the Sts'ailes people of British Columbia, sharing stories of a shape-shifting forest protector known as Sasq'ets, an anglicized version meaning "hairy man" in the Halkomelem language (Sasquatch | The Canadian Encyclopedia). These pre-Columbian accounts, while not specific events, form the cultural backdrop for later sightings and are essential for understanding the creature's enduring legend. JW Burns, born John Walter Burns (originally J.W. Bournes), was an Irish expatriate who moved to British Columbia and took up the roles of Indian agent and schoolteacher at the Chehalis Indian Reserve near the Harrison River. In 1929, Burns compiled and published an article in the April 1 issue of Maclean's magazine, titled "Introducing B.C.'s Hairy Giants: A collection of strange tales about British Columbia's wild men as told by those who say they have seen them." This article detailed accounts from the Chehalis people of wild, hairy giants inhabiting the forests surrounding the reserve, creatures they had known since time immemorial. Burns' work is often credited with popularizing the term "Sasquatch," Burns' article is considered one of the earliest written accounts that brought the Sasquatch legend to public attention, predating many modern sightings and research efforts. 
JW Burns' April 1st, 1929 article in Mclean's magazine.
However, Burns' role is not without controversy. Critics, including Indigenous writer Robert Jago, argue that his work involved cultural appropriation, taking Indigenous stories and presenting them under his name without sufficient acknowledgment of their origins. Jago's 2022 article, "How Sasquatch was stolen," highlights this, noting that Burns' 1929 article in Maclean's was an act of theft, transforming sacred Indigenous narratives into a settler myth. (How Sasquatch was stolen).
Early Modern Reports and European Influence The first documented modern sighting often credited is from 1811, when British explorer David Thompson reported finding large footprints in what is now British Columbia, Canada (Sasquatch | Bigfoot, Description, Sightings, & Facts | Britannica). This event marks the beginning of European-influenced reports, reflecting a continuity with earlier Indigenous narratives. Thompson's journals, detailed in "David Thompson's Narrative of His Explorations in Western America, 1784-1812" (1916), provide a historical basis for these claims, though their credibility is debated due to the lack of physical evidence. Significant 20th-Century Events The 20th century saw a surge in Sasquatch reports, with several events standing out as significant. The 1924 Ape Canyon incident in Washington, USA, involved gold prospectors claiming they were attacked by "gorilla men," an event widely reported in contemporary newspapers like "The Oregonian" in July 1924. This incident, while controversial, is considered a pivotal moment in Sasquatch lore, highlighting early modern encounters (The most famous Bigfoot sightings | Live Science). In 1941, the Ruby Creek incident occurred in British Columbia, Canada, where Jeanne Chapman and her children reported seeing a large creature approaching their house, leaving giant footprints and partially eaten salted salmon, as documented by John Green in "On the Track of the Sasquatch" (1968). This sighting is notable for its physical evidence and the involvement of law enforcement, making it a credible addition to the timeline . William Roe's encounter in 1955, also in British Columbia, Canada, is another key event. Roe, an experienced outdoorsman, claimed to observe a family of Sasquatch, providing detailed descriptions and later signing a sworn affidavit in 1957, filed in the City of Edmonton, Alberta. This account, considered credible by many, is rich in detail and predates the modern "Bigfoot" term (William Roe’s 1957 Sworn Affidavit | Alberta Sasquatch). 
William Roe's Affidavit, signed August 26th, 1957
The year 1958 marked the beginning of the modern Bigfoot era with Jerry Crew's discovery of large footprints in California, USA, leading to the term "Bigfoot" being coined in "The Humboldt Times" in October 1958. This event, detailed in historical articles, catalyzed public interest and media coverage, solidifying Sasquatch's place in popular culture (How the Bigfoot Legend Began | HISTORY).
The Paterson-Gimlin Film and Beyond The 1967 Paterson-Gimlin Film, filmed in California, USA, is arguably the most famous piece of evidence, showing a creature walking through the woods. This film, while controversial within the scientific community, remains a cornerstone for believers (The most famous Bigfoot sightings | Live Science). Moving into the 21st century, the 2000 Skookum Cast, found in Washington, USA, is a plaster cast of a footprint considered by some researchers, like Jeff Meldrum in "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science" (2007), as one of the best physical pieces of evidence. This event extends the timeline of significant findings, offering a modern perspective on Sasquatch research. 
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World Names For Sasquatch / Bigfoot
Not just an "Urban Legend," a hairy bipedal creature which often smells horrible, and has hideous, bellowing screams, is not just indigenous to the United States, but rather is a world wide phenomena. |
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"Persistent rumors led the writer to make diligent inquiries among old Indians. The question relating to the subject was always, or nearly always, evaded with the trite excuse: The white man don't believe, he make joke of the Indian.
But after three years of plodding, I have come into possession of information more definite and authentic than has come to light at any previous time.
Disregarding rumor and hearsay, I have prevailed upon men who claim they had actual contact with these hairy giants, to tell what they know about them. Their stories are set down here in good faith."
-J.W. Burns, MacLean's Magazine April, 1929
