What do the natives call Bigfoot?
The common name Sasquatch comes from the Salish Sasquits, while the Algonquin of the north-central region of the continent refer to a Witiko or Wendigo. Other nations tell of a large creature much like a man but imbued with special powers and characteristics.
Bigfoot footprints are said to be as large as 24 inches long and 8 inches wide. However, some footprints that have been attributed to Bigfoot have been smaller:
Roger Patterson found a footprint in Bluff Creek, California that was 18 inches long and 9.2 inches wide. A plaster cast of the footprint is on display at the Arizona State Museum.
LAKES AND NATURAL SPRINGS IN THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST
The numerous clear lakes and natural springs of the Ocala, its semitropical scenery, and its excellent hunting and fishing make it an ideal spot for a vacation.
The area which is now the Ocala National Forest has been famous since the days of the red man for its many beautiful springs. In addition to the nationally famous Silver Springs, 5 miles east of Ocala, there are a number of other clear-water springs in the rolling, pine-clad expanses of the “Big Scrub.” Surrounded by a massive luxuriant growth of tall pine, oak, and palmetto, and a deep cool cover of shrubs and low palms, these spots are gems of shadowy, tropical beauty.
Other springs which are of scenic and historical interest and which are adapted to recreation are Sweetwater Spring, Alexander Spring, Salt Springs, and Silver Glen Springs. The latter two are on private land, but are adjacent to the Ocala National Forest.
JUNIPER SPRINGS RECREATION AREA is in the scrub just 1,000 feet north of Florida Highway 19. 30 miles east of the city of Ocala and 44 miles west of Daytona Beach, and within an hour’s drive of De Land, Eustis, and Palatka. This development provides healthful outdoor recreation of many types and is considered by authorities as one of the outstanding recreation areas in the national forests of the Southeast.
TREES AND THE NATIVE AMERICANS
Indigenous people worldwide have always fundamentally understood trees to be sentient community members that live alongside us – not just inanimate objects made to be used, abused, and disrespected. While indigenous people did use trees for all the resources they provide – they understood that they were not owed anything, but rather it was only through the generosity of the tree that they would be sustained.
**Native Americans used the hard outer bark to create their homes, soft paperbark was used to wrap their babies, stringy fiber from bark twisted into fishing lines and cords, water carriers were carved from the knots of trees, leaves and fruits were used as food and medicine, and roots and branches became tools that made their lives easier. Trees also provided a rich variety of foods for Native Americans – Hickory, black walnut, hazel nut, **beech, and pinyon pine nuts were all harvested for food. Hackberries were dried and ground into a pepper-like condiment that was used for flavoring and tenderizing meat. Fruits such as plums, serviceberry, crabapple, and currants were eaten in season, or they were dried and stored for winter. They were even able to make a food preservative by boiling the bark of Elm trees.
There’s so much that we can learn from the history of the Native Americans and even incorporate into our lives today. For example, the three sisters’ method of farming is still frequently used in personal gardens. The Three Sisters are represented by corn, beans, and squash and they’re planted in a symbiotic triad where beans are planted at the base of the corn stalks, which offers climbing bean vines support as they reach for sunlight from the earth.