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In the early days, long before the arrival of White Settlers to the Pittsburgh area, there was a considerable amount of discussion among the various Indian tribes about a terrifying creature they called ‘The Monongy.’ This creature lived in the murky depths of the Monongahela River. According to historical records left by British soldiers of the French and Indian War, specifically in the Pittsburgh region, they mention a terrifying monster half man, half fish; he comes out of the river at night, lurking through the wooded areas and feeding on human flesh. The Native Americans in this region rebuked the soldiers of any fishing activities done at night. 

It is my understanding that each year many researchers of the Paranormal and Bigfoot come to the Pittsburgh area and Monongahela River in search of this mystical fascination. Does it exist? Probably not, but the myth and endeavor continue to intrigue the likes of all folks who read and study folklore, mythology and the supernatural. 

As the years went by, the popularity of this ‘gill-man’ somewhat increased along with new stories that were told. During the 1930’s through the 1950’s, it was reported through the discussions of various folklore in the region that this creature was claimed to have been sighted. In fact, it acquired so much attention, the Pittsburgh Police conducted their own investigation on the matter. (No records have ever been found concerning such an investigation.) The investigation turned into nothing. The name itself, ‘Monongy,’ has not convicted my evidence of Native Americans in the Pittsburgh area of having ever facilitated such a term in their language. I am not aware of any such evidence. However, the story does not seem to end on this note. 

A local columnist in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, named Bill Eggert wrote an article about the elusive creature; in it, he mentions that in 2003, a fishing boat spotted ‘The Monongy’ and even captured it with a camera. For a time, the photos circulated the internet until they were mysteriously removed; no one has seen them since. Conspiracy theorists have continued to hold their ground that the United States Government removed all photos and evidence of the existence of this creature. (If someone knows more about these photos, please contact me through this website or my Social Media links.) 

Author and Cryptologist Denver Michaels created a video on his YouTube Channel that talks about the highly unlikely existence of such a creature. Also, famous Pennsylvania UFO and Bigfoot blogger, Stan Gordon, has written pieces that are eerily like the description of ‘The Monongy.’

It is my understanding that each year many researchers of the Paranormal and Bigfoot come to the Pittsburgh area and Monongahela River in search of this mystical fascination. Does it exist? Probably not, but the myth and endeavor continue to intrigue the likes of all folks who read and study folklore, mythology and the supernatural. 

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By its end, the French and Indian War had taken its toll not only on the land, but on the Native American peoples, specifically in the Ohio Country. War, famine, violence and separation of families had an enormous impact on the psyche and morality of the Native American peoples. Up to this point, they had never been exposed to such classes of men and cultures as of that of the European; however, this exposure did not come without influence. The makeup of the religion of Native Americans varied widely from region to region; the Indians of the Great Lakes practiced an almost completely alien form to that of Algonquins of the Ohio and Pennsylvania country. But through this meticulous process of development and evolvement, Native Americans, slowly, began to absorb elements of Christianity into their religious practice. With the disillusionment of their lands being taken, their women and children being killed, it arrives with no surprise that, perhaps, the Great Spirit may have had a hand in all of this. How would such a proud people arrive at this conclusion?  

In the year 1761, according to astute documents,² Neolin experienced a road-to-Damascus vision where he told the Native Americans to reject the materials and ideas of the Europeans. Through these ‘visions,’ Neolin would accrue many followers, including Pontiac (whose story will later be told on this website). Possessed with visions and extraordinary narrative, he used these claims to set himself apart from normal ‘Holy Men’ that would have been associated with numerous native tribes of the Ohio Valley region. One such vision that separates himself from other claims was that during the night he ventured onto a road that held three forks; as the night grew darker, the light permeating from the road forks became even brighter; at the widest fork, he encountered the gorgeous appearance of a young Indian maiden. Shocked by astonishment, he was ordered to cleanse himself in a nearby stream; upon completing this ritual, he climbed a mysterious mountain with only one leg and ascended into the entrance of a shiny village which he was permitted to enter. When he got somewhere which he believed to be, perhaps, the main street, his arrival was greeted by a mystical being dressed all in white; from this point in the story, Neolin was led by this being to a man who called himself the ‘Master of Life.’ 

Taking Neolin’s hand, the Master of Life presented him with a gift: a hat made of gold. It was now time for the Master of Life to speak. According to this account, (by Neolin himself), he confessed to Neolin that he was displeased with the lifestyles of his red children; more specifically, they had adopted European ways and discarded Indian ones. This was the most displeasing of their sins. To decide for a better life, he told Neolin, that through him, he would deliver his Red Children to a better land that was far away from Europeans if they could sustain further incursions from white settlers. But the story just doesn’t end here.

With the spread of Christianity by white missionaries in the Ohio Valley, probably by Quakers and Mennonites, the Indians became acquainted with basic doctrine. So, as the story unfolds, Neolin is instructed to recite a ‘special prayer’ in the mornings and evenings of each day; this prayer was mysteriously written down on a piece of deer hide, a sort of extinct reference to the ten commandments with an indigenous context. To take full advantage of the Indian protecting himself from the wicked ways of European influence, he composed a book entitled ‘Great Book of Writing.’ In this mystical work, he drew a map of Indians to follow; in this diagram were various paths from earth to heaven; however, these paths were blocked, some of them, by European entry. In order to obtain entry into heaven, every Indian was instructed to follow the narrowest path in order to elude any European; to help them further achieve this, Neolin proposed to offer his drawings on more buckskins from the Indians themselves. (No copies of these skins have ever been found.) It is also not known how many offerings he got from his fellow Indians to create these skins; in the ensuing months ahead, Indian and White relations grew more violent and Neolin’s influence on his people diminished.

Pontiac and his Indian allies continued to attack white settlements throughout the entire Ohio Country which would cultivate into bloody warfare and the slaughtering of Indian women and children. 

Suffice it to write, though, Neolin’s influence continued to persevere with selected individuals. One of them was a man who called himself Trout. He continued to advocate returning to the traditions of his people by being themselves, not drinking alcohol, gambling, or even marrying white settlers. Neolin’s teachings, though not always popular, continued to influence tribes of the Ottawa, Seneca, Huron, Shawnee and even Delaware. It is not known how Neolin’s life ended or when. His prophecies and peaceful teachings continued to have a considerable, but ineffective influence on the times that would march ahead; like many of the myths and beliefs of the Native American tribes of the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions, they would be replaced with Christianity and white influence, although at tremendous cost. For a time, though, Neolin was a hero to the Red People of the region. He attempted to establish exquisite teachings that he knew would have a profound impact on reestablishing the old ways of the Indian; to make things better for the prosperity in the areas in which they lived. Perhaps, though his mystical and misunderstood teachings, Neolin honestly attempted to explain the White expansion of Europeans in the area. But as with all of these expansions into Indian territory, bloodshed and conquering followed violently and compelled Native Americans to keep moving from their ancestral lands.

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Over the last fifty years, especially with the remarkable developments in technology, film and electronics, specifically, there have been thousands of sightings of a hairy creature, sometimes larger than life itself, reported by hundreds of spectators. Some of these reports are often in conflict with eyewitness and law enforcement accounts, but nonetheless seemed to be astonishingly connected to one fact: he is usually large and hairy, and most folks are terrified of him. What I also have found to be surprising is that the sightings, typically on the east coast, were not mentioned first. This was a bit puzzling to me in the infancy of my research considering the fact that the eastern coast of the United States amassed colonization first. It isn’t until after the expansion westward that we hear tales and legends of giant hairy creatures roaming in the woods. But, in Native American accounts and traditions, this creature is replete in the identity, in some specially chosen cases, of who the tribe is, his association with nature and his gods, and his will to survive in nature among men and beast. In other words, Bigfoot carries a commonality among practically all Indian tribes on the continent. I find this to be surprisingly extraordinary! What significance has this creature created? By all accounts, Bigfoot, as we know him, was not actually called this. There are many names for this creature, depending on the region and tribe you are referring to. Consider the following names:

“Chiye-Tanka” (Sioux Indian name for Bigfoot Meaning is uncertain.)

“Hairy Man” (Various Iroquois Indian Tribes and Yakuts Tribes; it may come to mean ‘Stone Giant’)

“Omah” (Hupa Indian name meaning Strong Man, perhaps.)

“Shampe” (Choctaw: It may mean Strong hairy man.)

“Ste ye hah” (Yakama Indian name: It may mean ‘men of the forest.’)

“Wendingo” (Algonquin: Cannibalistic water serpent who devours incessant sinners and      Indians who disrespect the forest. A special kind of Bigfoot sent by the Great Spirit.)

“Night Man” (Wenatchee: As the name implies, these creatures can only be seen at night; they are the protectors of Indian lands.)

“Geno’ segwa” (Seneca: It means stone giant.)

“She nah” (Okanogan (Washington state) This is a bit different from most commonalities of Bigfoot; according to this particulate tribe, she is an ‘Owl Woman.’)

“Keclah-Kudleh” (Cherokee name meaning Hairy Savage.)

“Misinghalikun” (Lenape/Delaware name that means ‘Man with a Mask.’)

“Esti Capcaki” (Seminole name that means ‘Tall Man.’)

“Iktomi” (Plains Indian name that may mean ‘Trickster.’)

These are just a SHORT LIST of the names for a creature known to the rest of the world as Bigfoot. But, what about the other not-so-well-known sightings of other creatures that are associated with this monster?

For instance, some of you, depending on your geographics, have heard of the Skunk Ape, Missouri Monster, Jersey Devil, Mothman, Lizard Man, etc. The list, as one can see, has gotten quite expansive, especially over the years and with the growth of Social Media, radio programs, podcasts and all other affiliations of networking. The real question remains, however, are these sightings real or is this just a continuation of past confrontations that transcend? Over the years I have read countless articles of sightings of all of these creatures; they seem to share one characteristic: it cannot be acceptably photographed, and it is tall, has red eyes, and no person seems to be armed to even shoot it. By all accounts, the creatures are elusive, mischievous, and a bit smarter than the person who has an encounter with one. However, the myth continues to grow, even with more fascination year after year. Specifically, in the Ohio Valley area, Bigfoot is often regarded as a Spiritual/Inter-Dimensional Being who is able to enter and leave our dimension as they please, and can choose who they wish to appear in front of, always for a reason; it is usually thought that a sighted appearance may suggest to mankind to me more cautious with the earth and to give thanks to the Great Spirit; it is by He alone who guides Bigfoot all over creation. The stories are always replete with fascination and holds a huge audience. There is one particular story that I find intriguing that seems to have been responsible for the geography and landscape of the entire Pacific Northwest, and its concern is Mount St. Helens. Mount St. Helens, it turns out, preserves the most mystical tale of Bigfoot.  Among the Klickitat Indians, Mount St. Helens was created out of punishment. One day the Great Spirit and his two sons, Pahto and Wy’east, were travelling down the Columbia River valley in search of land to settle. After some time, they located in an area where they were content. Then a problem arose between the two sons; they could not decide in which area to live and claim as his own. To settle the dispute, the Great Spirit shot an arrow from his mighty bow; one to the north and the other to the south. Pahto followed in pursuit of the north and Wr’east settled in the south; consequently, the Great Spirit (their father) built what is called the “Bridge of the Gods,” so that the family could periodically be reunited.

For a time, events were peaceful until the two sons met a gorgeous maiden named “Loowit.” Unable to choose between them as husbands, the sons fought for her loyalty; as a result, the earth shook with such violence that the Bridge of the Gods sank into the earth which formed the cascades of the Columbia River Gorge. Outrageously vexed by their actions, the Great Spirit took matters into his own hands and transformed the lovers into mountains. Wy’east is traditionally known as Mount Hood; Pahto is known as Mount Adams; and Loowit became Mount St. Helens. However, the legend does not end here. Among the Spokane (the town of Spokane, Washington is named after them, and is one the Holy Grail locations of Bigfoot sightings in the west) Indians, there are a race of cannibalistic wildmen called “skoocooms,” who reside at the top of the mountain; they are the defenders of the mountains and forests against those who wish to damage them. When the earth children disobey the laws, they cause the mountain to become angry, and a violent eruption ensues the area. To add more astute realism to this myth, the Spokane (even today) believe that the skoocooms refuse any communication with others except the Indians living in the region; like the God of Moses, this is where the Great Spirit (according to Spokane belief) chose this piece of land for his people to flourish.

However, the zenith piece of so-called evidence is the Patterson/Gimlin film shot in October of 1967 in northern California of an alleged female Bigfoot. Surprisingly, the film has never been debunked, nor has it ever been proven to be authentic. At any rate, it remains, even after fifty years, the most solid piece of evidence in existence. The controversy among Native American tribes does not exist and does not require anyone to submit proof; interestingly enough, in Anthropological theory, Bigfoot played a paramount claim, even among the various tribes who had no contact with one another. Their legends of a hairy man, stone giant, bushman, trickster, devil, or monster tell an astonishingly similar story by comparison. How can this be? Some Anthropologists have presented these collection of stories to be authentic, strongly rooted in oral tradition and can effectively support, with an open mind, the existence of such a creature. Among woodsman and survivalists, there is another favorable theory for proof: tree structures. Deep in the Canadian forests of British Columbia and Alberta, famous survivalist, Les Stroud, has examined these intricate structures and has confidently arrived that they could not have been created by any human, or even nature herself; the structures are primarily composed of enormously heavy downfallen trees and are arranged in such a way that it is impossible for these structures to have fallen in place as they have. Just how these sculptures of trunks were created and symmetrically arranged is unknown. Several experts have concluded that these creations are some means of communication or, perhaps, location points to food and water sources. 

In closing, there is a huge and diverse structure of belief and identity of Bigfoot among Native Americans, and there are literally thousands of accounts and sagas telling of how he has aided warriors in warfare, hunting expeditions, healing, medicine and even protection. On the other side, there are stories of terror, abduction of wives and children, violence, and even murder among abundance of tribes throughout the North American continent. In either of these cases, there simply is no need for any kind of physical or spiritual proof that such creatures walk and hide among humans. The continuing fascination and portrayal of this creature holds the seeker and cameraman at awe. The thousands of YouTube videos and websites are proof enough. 

HERE IS THE PATTERSON/GIMLIN FILM IN ITS ENTIRETY

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