There are many different names given to these creatures by many different tribes of American Indians.As we journey through the folklore of the different tribes. We will discover that these creatures have been in existence far longer than anyone has anticipated.These stories have been passed down from generation to generation.
The Spokane Indians refer to bigfoot as S'cwene'y'ti [pronounced as Chwah-knee-tee] meaning Tall hairy,smells like burnt hair.He is described as being about nine feet tall and possessing a very strong stench,smelling like burnt,wet hair.He was never known to attack any humans,but was known to play pranks on people regarding their horses and dogs.The elders of the Spokane Indians have some very strong and unshakable beliefs about S'cwene'y'ti.The first being that he is not an animal.This belief stems from their strong biblical belief and the creation of man.Beginning with the sons of Adam and Eve,Cain and Able.Everyone know the story of Cain and Able.The story goes that Cain was the first born and rightful heir to his fathers possessions.He was a farmer.His brother was a sheep herder,although Cain was the first born ,Able stood in great favor with God because of his heart felt blood offerings to God.Cain became very jealous and slew Able.For this action God cursed Cain."A fugitive and vagabond shalt thou be on earth".He was sentenced by God to roam forever until doomsday.That he could be heard,but never seen,and was never again to commit murder.
Belief #2:Is that S'cwene'y'ti is actually Cain!
Here is a very interesting story.Back in the old days the customs of the Indians,was to set up a hunting camp in the fall of the year.The used the camp as kind of a base camp for the hunters to bring in deer for the women to cut,smoke and dry for the winter.One day in autumn,the Warner family and John Peters.Left and went to the camp,taking Johns hunting dogs with them.When they arrived at the camp they began hearing strange noises,like a man crying deep in the woods.As the night went on the crying began to get closer and closer to the camp.Then the dogs began barking and just would not be quiet,all of a sudden they were thrown threw the flap of the tee-pee,landing right in the fire,singeing their hair.At that time they came to a decision that the eldest of the girls should go out and stand tall and speak to S'cwene'y'ti saying:
" Why are you scaring us this way?We are already scared! We know who you are.We know that you are Cain.That this is your punishment for the sin that you committed,that here on this earth there will be no end to your wandering and roaming about.Then hear you are scaring us and terrifying us.It is God's will that you be this way.So,Go away and leave us be! Get away from us!"
After that everything became quiet and then she began to pray.After awhile she heard the crying off in the distance gradually fading away.He left them and never bothered them again.
The girl knew that S'cwene'y'ti would not harm them,but might have stayed there all night scaring them and keeping them unsettled.If she had not done what she did.
The Lake Band Of Indians called him Skanicum,which translates into "Stick Indian".Some Insians referred to him as "Scwe'ney'tum,derived from the original sc'waney'tex meanin "stick indian".

To the Wenatchee Indians he was known as "Choanito" or "night people".Many of the tribes believed that he could transform into a tree.It is said that this belief comes from there interaction with the creature.Here is a story in which their belief is demonstrated.
This story begins with several Indians that had been tracking Skanicum and watched as he went into a ravine,that was mostly wooded.As they watched for hours he was never seen coming back out of the ravine.The area was covered in an abundance of trees,brush and willows etc.The were said o have sat on a hillside where the whole area could be observed.From the point of observation they could see any and all possible exits from the ravine.After hours of waiting and watching some of the Indians decided too go and search for Skanicum.A complete search was made of the whole ravine and he was nowhere to be found.They were certain that there was noway that he could have left the ravine with out being seen.No Indian would dare to start chopping into the tree for fear that Skanicum might have turned into a tree.Many Indians of today know all to well that Skanicum's color and natural camouflage enables him to use his surrounding and become impossible to see.
This story involves th kidnapping of a young Indian girl by "Skanicum".This takes place around the turn of the century.Indians had set up their fishing camp near Keller on the San Poll river.In the evening the men would return with their catch for that day and would rest from their long days work.While the women would clean and prepare the fish,putting it on drying racks to dry.While cooking dinner one of the women,recently married took a kettle and went for water.Minutes later she was heard screaming.The men rushed to the river and were surprised to watch Skanicum walking off into the woods with the young girl thrown over his shoulder.They could do nothing for the fear that in relation he might hurt the young girl.Also there was the fear if they tried to harm him the woods would not be safe for any Indian.So the young girl starting tearing parts of her clothing of to leave a trail for the men to follow.She was with Skanicum for at least 2 or 3 mths.When she was discovered gathering wild potato roots along a trail.
Skanicum was asleep nearby.When she saw them she jumped to the back of one of the horses and escaped.On their return to camp they hastily began packing and departed the area.While with Skanicum the young girl shared her meals with him.She told that he primarily eats what ever we eat,but is mostly a vegetarian.They eat rots and berries and strangely they also eat the roots of the cattail plant.They live in cave and camouflage the entrance so that it cannot be seen by anyone.
Supposedly during her stay she became pregnant and had a son by Skanicum whose name was Patrick,who grew up on the reservation.His body structure was very different from the other Indians on the reservation,as his arms were very long,reaching to nearly his knees.He was very shot in stature compared with people of his age,he was about 5'4" tall.His features were almost that of a neanderthal man.Which in turn he was referred to as a very ugly man,but highly intelligent.Possessing almost super human strength.He died at the age of 30 and is buried on the reservation.He was known as the Gentle Man of the reservation.He had 5 children 2 boys and 3 girls of which all but 2 of the girls live to be of old age.The 2 daughters of which the oldest is 65 and her name is Mary Louise and the other 2 sisters are
Madeline and Stella.Both of the living sisters look relatively normal,although they do share some of the traits of their father.Starting with the rather large mouths,looking as if they were split from ear to ear and protruding teeth and squint eyes.But Madeline has the more distinct features of Skanicum such as the sloping ,long peaked ears,etc
This story involves the first cousin of Patricks wife named Laura.She told that some years ago she was out hunting and shot a dear not far from Nespelem.She was alone at the time and was unable to load it into her,she came back the next morning with her grandson.When they got there several Skanicum were in the area.While driving in they saw a female standing at the side of the road and the female never moved as Laura drove right past her,getting a good look at the Skanicums features.She looked almost human,was about 6' tall,her body was covered with long brown hair and a sloping forehead with ears that seemed to be pulled upward.As they got to the carcass it had been scavenged and the tender parts of the flanks removed as well as the liver and other parts.So they left the carcass and then left the area.It is said that the areas just south of Nespelem and about 2 miles north of the Columbia River are believed to be where the Skanicum live.
Among the Wenatchee Tribe,Saquatch is known as CHOANITO,which in there language means NIGHT PEOPLE and is pronounced Cho-a-ni-to.This story was told by Isabel,a 100 yr old woman who is a member of the Wenatchee Tribe.This is an event that happened during her great grandfathers generation:
The story begans in the fall of the year,around October,a group of male members of the Wenatchee Tribe were on a hunting trip near Wenatchee Lake.One of the men became seperated from the party and was captured by CHOANITO.He was taken to a cave far up in the Rocky Mountains and held captive by a family of Choanitos for nearly 3 mths.He was not allowed to go out hunting with the Choanito,but was made to stay in the camp near the cave with the women.He was treated well and was returned to the place that he was abducted from in the spring.His children were very happy to see him,they thought that he had been killed by the Choanitos.
To this day Skanicum is believed to still frequent the area and also is believed to still live in this area also.There is a story of a cave that runs deep into Moses Mountain and is said to be where skanicum lives.One more short story to tell,Vince a 30yr old of the Lake Band tells of a time that his grandfather took him to see where the Skanicum lives to see them.He says that he was allowed to get up close and personal with the creatures and says that they are huge.He also says that they have a stench that is unmistakable.He also says that he has been to the mouth of the cave.He states that inside the cave is smooth and squared.Appears to have been worked on with tools and was covered with tree branches.
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