The picture to the left of the screen is a mask used by the Bella Coola in dances that were used in turn to appease the Boq.There are several different stories in the Bella Coola folklore about the Boqs.Many in which they speak of the supernatural powers,almost mystical.The Bella Coola describe the boq much the same as the Sasquatch.They are mostly identical to the Sasquatch,in that they have the facial features of a human,walk in an upright position with a slightly stooped posture,elongated arms reaching to just below the knees.The height of these creatures is greater than the average man.The whole body except the face is covered with hair.they also have a large protruding chest area,that can conclusively explain their massive strength.
The stories that you are about to read are straight from the Bella Coola peoples lore about these creatures.These stories will paint a picture that will captivate you and will explain their beliefs of the supernatural capabilities of the Boqs


THE STORY OF QAKLIS
Not so many years ago a young Bella Coola man named Qaklis and his family were camped at the Bay of the Thousand Islands,Altukwlakos.This area is about 2 miles above Namu.Namu is a supposed habitat for the Boqs.Late on night while sitting around the fire Qaklis and his family began hearing a number of the creatures in the wooded area behind them.In fear for himself and his family he picked up his gun and yelled out "GO AWAY".But instead of going away the Boqs moved closer.Then Qaklis threatened "If you do not leave me and my family alone,I will show you my power".So the boq still moved closer and Qaklis fired in the direction of the sounds.After this there was alot of commotion if the forest,because the shot angered the Boqs,there were grunts,roars,pounding and the breaking of branches.Now Qaklis was thoroughly frightened and scared for the lives of himself and his family.Qaklis told his family to go quickly back to the canoe,as he covered there retreat with his gun.As they got into the canoe and anchored it not far from shore,they could hear the Boqs running back and forth to the waters edge,he could vaguely make out there shapes in the dark.At the time there was no wind what so ever and the canoe began to roll as if it were in heavy seas.Qaklis decided to make a hasty retreat to Restoration bay,he was mid channel when his paddle struck bottom.As he looked up toward the mountains he noticed they seemed to be higher than usual.According to Bella Coola belief the Boqs had the ability to raise an entire area so that the water would almost completely drain away.This is the belief the the Boqs possess a supernatural power.
Qaklis jumped from his canoe and began towing it toward Restoration Bay,all the while the Boqs were following him along the shore line.He and his family managed to escape and they look back on this event as the most frightful night in their lives.They recall that as daybreak came the Boqs became quiet and their horrifying night had finally came to an end.
INCIDENT AT RESTORATION BAY
This story begins with one of the chiefs of the Bella Coola.He and some friends decided to leave Kwatna,bound for Namu.They traveled to Restoration Bay by canoe making the journey without incident.On the return trip they decided that they would stop to gather clams on the rocky point of the bay.As they came around the bend of the cove near the rocky point,they saw a boq gathering shellfish.They backed their canoe behind some large rocks without the creature seeing them.They sat and observed the as it gathered the shellfish.The creature acted as if it were frightened,as it gathered the shellfish it would look back,then it would hurriedly scooped up the clams and then would rush off into the forest and then come back for some more.
As they watched the creature the chief decided that they would attack the creature.So they decided that they would sneak up him through the forest.armed with their Hudson Bay Muskets.As they were sneaking up on the creature the came upon a large pile of clams the he had been piling in the forest and sat and waited for the creature to return.When the creature finally returned,the chief raised his musket and fired upon the Boq.But instead of killing the Boq,it raised its hand and the musket balls exploded as if they had hit a wall just in front of the beast.this angered the Boq and he let out a shriek and called in a horde of other Boqs.The chief and his friends rushed back to the scared out of their minds,got into the canoe and never returned to Restoration Bay again.
In 1924 a group of young Bella Coola were returning home in a motorboat from Ocean Falls.They stopped and camped for the night on Burke Channel,during the night they were alarmed by what we now call tree knocking.The young boys were scared stiff,they had several flashlights with then and they pointed them in the direction of the sounds but never saw anything.Although the noises continued they went to their boat and started the engine and when they did that it seemed to have frightened the Boqs away.After they frightened the creatures away the left Burke Channel never to return again.
Please be patient there will be lots more to come.There are many more tribes that have these types of creatures in their lore.Continue