The Conspiracies

In the mystery of Bigfoot, he is said to roam in the deep woods of the United States (Foxon 2024). He is a large, anthropomorphic, and hairy entity, but many different ideas have sprung about his existence (Kortè 14). Does Bigfoot truly exist, or is he simply a legend created by pure imagination? Is Bigfoot merely a singular mysterious being, or part of a whole population that is yet to be discovered? Is it possible that Bigfoot embodies a guardian presence or a spiritual force, as held in certain Cherokee beliefs? In further consideration, hard facts can be used to identify and reveal the truths about this creature and how he may resemble folklore and mythology that play major roles in American culture.

The conspiracy theory that Bigfoot is real or if he is just a myth or hoax has not been proven or disproven. Ben Crair acknowledges, "With or without hard evidence, many people clearly want to believe in Bigfoot, which suggests we are dealing more with human imagination than human evolution" (Crair). Although this lack of evidence does not prove that Bigfoot is real, it does not mean he is just a hoax. They often think Bigfoot may just be someone dressed in a hairy suit, or even a bear. As reported by Floe Foxon, a study was conducted, and on average, across all states and provinces in 2006, after controlling for human population and forest area, there were approximately 5,000 bears per Sasquatch sighting (Foxon). This leads many people to believe that Bigfoot is just a bear or another unidentified animal, rather than Bigfoot itself. Based on statistical research and considerations, it is likely that many confused a sasquatch with a bear, or a misidentified known form (Foxon). People do not truly know whether Bigfoot is real, rather than just a bear or a human playing dress up, trying to get a hoax started.

Is Bigfoot a Hoax or a Misidentified Animal?

Is there a Species?

Whether Bigfoot is a species or an individual cryptid that is rumored to exist is a conspiracy that people often argue about. As Patrick Pester states, "Bigfoot is an ape-like creature that many believe roams North America. It is a cryptid (or species rumored to exist). There's scant physical evidence to suggest Bigfoot is actually out there. But that doesn't stop alleged sightings of the ape that never shows its face or Bigfoot buffs from trying to prove there's life in the legend (Pester). Because of the lack of scientific evidence, we still do yet to know if Bigfoot is a species or one individual cryptid that is rumored to roam across North America. Although McLeod states that “Patterson believes, contrary to popular belief, there is no danger of extinction, being one of the most widespread species on earth. On the Northwest coast alone, he said, the creatures had 90 percent of the area themselves” (McLeod 14). This demonstrates that no one truly agrees on the concept of whether Bigfoot is an individual cryptid, species, or just a mysterious hoax.

In some Cherokee traditions, Bigfoot is not always seen as a physical representation but as a spiritual protector or guardian of the deep words of the entire world. Multiple different Cherokees often tell stories of “Tsul ‘Kalu”, who is also known as the 'Slant-Eyed Giant' or the 'Master of Game,’ who is said to protect the animals and maintain nature’s balance (Tsul 'Kalu: The Cherokee Legend of the Slant-Eyed Giant). They believe that Bigfoot will protect them, animals, and all their belongings. Rather than being feared or frightened by, the Tsul ‘Kalu is appreciated as a powerful spirit who reminds the people to live in harmony with each other, the land, and to treat everyone and everything with respect (1). This shows that the Cherokees think highly of Bigfoot and who he is said to be in their culture. This set of beliefs greatly differs from views today, both scientifically and religiously (Davenport). Demonstrating this, there are other reasons that the thought of Bigfoot's existence still has many differences from Cherokee beliefs. This is because a majority of society believes that Bigfoot is just an image of true imagination. According to Patrick Pester, he demonstrated that “there’s scant physical evidence to suggest Bigfoot reflects human imagination more than human evolution” (Smithsonian Magazine). This contrasts different views of how Bigfoot is considered both a representation of spiritual symbolisms in the Indigenous cultures and the folklore today, which illustrates the deep connections between different meanings, myths, and beliefs.

Is Bigfoot considered a spiritual guide?

Summarization.

The overall mystery of Bigfoot continues to inspire quarrels among society because he is debated to be a mystery of science, spiritual beliefs, and folklore. Scientific research presents a lack of physical proof that Bigfoot is indeed a real and present species. This proposes that many sightings of him may happen to be an image of someone's imagination and/or misidentification of different animals. Additionally, cultural traditions, such as Cherokee stories that have been passed down for many generations, that exist about the Tsul ‘Kalu. They portray that Bigfoot-like creatures can act as a guardian of nature to the Cherokees and hold the meaning of connection and spiritual guidance (Mooney). For instance, these differing perspectives often reveal how Bigfoot’s signification goes far beyond the frequently asked question of whether he exists, but rather represents the human yearning and desire to explain the unknown and unpredictable, to connect to the world, and to uphold myths that often shape American culture.