Nahanni River Valley

Date: 1879

Occurrence: A group of prospectors and Inuit guides observed a “Tchoo-Tchoona” (Sasquatch or Bushman) walking along the river. The creature was said to be ten [10] feet tall, covered in black hair, and was apparently carrying a rough-hewn club in its left hand. When it spotted the group, it made “crude grunting and growling” sounds & waved the club over its head. One of the prospectors became afraid, shouldered his rifle, and fired at the creature. It let out a mournful squealing howl and ran off into the surrounding concealing terrain. One of the guides told the prospectors that they must never try to harm the “Tchoo-Tchoona”, for it will eventually exact a terrible revenge upon those who would harm it. They said that Inuit who hunted the “Tchoo-Tchoona” go missing or turn up dead, killed in a most horrible manner. They also repeated a host of spiritual legends concerning the creature, but these are things that have no relevance to this report.

The guides insisted that they leave the river valley and head to higher ground for the night.

The next day the creature was spotted again. This time it was climbing a steep cliff, they watched it until it topped the cliff and disappeared from sight. The guides once again insisted that they leave the area.

Witnesses: Simon H. Noble & party.

WCSRO, 2006.