Month: October 2023

Episode 291: Jack Fiddler was a chief and shaman among the Anishinaabe in northwestern Ontario. Born around 1839, he became renowned for his abilities in white magic, particularly his claimed power to defeat the Wendigo, a cannibalistic spirit. Fiddler asserted that he had vanquished fourteen Wendigos during his lifetime. Some of these were believed to be sent by enemy shamans, while others were individuals from his community who developed an uncontrollable craving for human flesh. Families often asked him to euthanize a gravely ill loved one to prevent them from becoming Wendigo.

In 1907, the North-West Mounted Police arrested Jack and his brother Joseph Fiddler for the alleged murder of a woman believed to have turned Wendigo. The arrest was part of a broader effort to impose Canadian law on Indigenous communities. The story garnered significant media attention, with many newspapers sensationalizing the events. Jack Fiddler died by suicide while in custody, and although Joseph went to trial and was convicted, he passed away in 1909, shortly before an order for his release arrived.

Sources:

Killing the Shamen : Fiddler, Thomas | Internet Archive

Windigo | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Wendigo Lore by Chad Lewis and Kevin Lee Nelson

Canadian Mysteries of the Unexplained by John Marlowe – Ebook

Dangerous Spirits: The Windigo in Myth and History – Ebook

Biography – ZHAUWUNO-GEEZHIGO-GAUBOW – Volume XIII (1901-1910) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography

Biography – PEEMEECHEEKAG – Volume XII (1891-1900) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography

(PDF) Wendigo Psychosis

The Windigo in the Material World on JSTOR

The Power to Punish: Conflicts of Authority in the Case of Jack Fiddler | Deborah Rose Peña | The Hypocrite Reader

Windigo of First Nations oral tradition — fearsome and loathsome creature

Free Press Prairie Farmer 23 Oct 1907, page 8

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On July 3, 1884, the Daily Colonist newspaper in Canada reported the capture of “Jacko,” described as a human-like creature resembling a gorilla near Yale, British Columbia. Some Bigfoot enthusiasts later cited this story as evidence for Sasquatch’s existence. The tale gained prominence and drew much speculation from only a single story reprinted in numerous newspapers. Jacko’s story has been featured in various books, documentaries and television shows. Other articles from 1884 dismiss the story as a probable hoax, yet some continue to believe he did exist.

Sources:

The Daily British Colonist, July 3, 1884

The Mainland Guardian, July 9, 1884

The British Columbian, July 12, 1884

Yale & the Strange Story of Jacko the Ape-boy by Christopher L. Murphy and Barry G. Blount

Abominable Snowmen, Legend Come To Life : Ivan T. Sanderson | Internet Archive

Strange Creatures from Time and Space by John A. Keel | Goodreads

Sasquatch in BC: A Chronology of Incidents… by Christopher L. Murphy | Goodreads

Remembering John Green’s indelible footprint

Kilby Historic Site

The Parker Road Phantom | Saltwire

rr_2009_july_protecting_elusive_sasquatch

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First, we look at a little more about the history of UFO sightings in Canada and elsewhere. These are not a new phenomena.

In the show’s second half, we learn about a series of UFO sightings that occurred in the 1970s in Manitoba, particularly around Carman. The sightings garnered significant attention because of their frequency and because many credible individuals, including police officers and other professionals, witnessed them.

The name “Charlie Red Star” was given to the object due to its bright red hue and was often described as a glowing, pulsating, and sometimes changing shape. Sightings of the object frequently mentioned its ability to move at incredible speeds and make sudden maneuvers that seemed beyond the capability of conventional aircraft of that era.

The phenomenon of Charlie Red Star drew many UFO enthusiasts, reporters, and investigators to the area in the hope of witnessing or gaining some understanding of the mysterious object.

While there were numerous speculations and theories regarding the nature of Charlie Red Star, including secret military projects, extraterrestrial craft, or atmospheric phenomena, the true identity and nature of the objects remain unexplained. The events surrounding Charlie Red Star have since become a notable chapter in the annals of UFO lore.

Sources:

The Big Book of UFOs — Chris A. Rutkowski

Search Results: Carman, MB – Canada’s UFOs: The Search for the Unknown – Library and Archives Canada

Charlie Red Star: True Reports of One of North America’s Biggest UFO Sightings by Grant Cameron

The Canadian UFO Report: The Best Cases Revealed by Chris A. Rutkowski

Canada’s UFOs: Declassified by Chris A. Rutkowski

The Calgary Albertan 17 May 1975, page 12

Star-Phoenix 18 Jun 1975, page 17

The Brandon Sun 18 Nov 1975, page Page 1

THE SANDRA LARSON INCIDENT

Schumer, Rounds Introduce New Legislation To Declassify Government Records Related To Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena & UFOs – Modeled After JFK Assassination Records Collection Act – As An Amendment To NDAA | Senate Democratic Leadership

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Episode 288: In this, the second episode of our five-part Spooktober series, we dive into three ghostly tales from coast to coast or, to coin a phrase, ghost to ghost. First, we’re off to northern New Brunswick to learn about the ghostly Fire Ship of Chaleur Bay, said to sail the waters of the bay intermittently terrifying mariners. Next, we head to Wallaceburg, Ontario, where, in the 1830s, violent poltergeist activity known as the Baldoon Mystery occurred. Last, we come back west to B.C., where in a small museum in Quesnel resides Mandy the haunted doll.

Sources:

City of Bathurst | Bathurst.ca | Heritage & Culture | The Legend of the Phantom Ship

Le Vaisseau de Feu de la Baie des Chaleurs

Lost at Sea: Ghost Ships and Other Mysteries | Goss, Michael | Internet Archive

The Burning Ship of Northumberland Strait: Some Notes on That Apparition on JSTOR

The Baldoon Mystery

Baldoon Mystery | Psi Encyclopedia

The Baldoon Mystery | Skeptoid

Baldoon mystery | Wierd and Startling | McDonald, Neil T | Internet Archive

“A History of Wallaceburg and Vicinity 1804 to the Present.” pp. 20–22

Biography – TROYER, JOHN – Volume VII (1836-1850) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography

Mandy | Quesnel & District Museum and Archives

Calgary Herald 04 Apr 1999, page 31

Quesnel Cariboo Observer 28 Apr 1999, page 12

The Paranormal Road Trippers (@theparanormalroadtrippers) | Instagram

Canada’s Most Haunted Doll!! | The Paranormal Road Trippers | YouTube

Meet Mandy the Doll, Canada’s Most Evil Antique

Forget Annabelle. Meet Mandy the Haunted Doll

Mandy the Haunted Doll | The Paranormal Guide

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Episode 287: Canada, the second-largest country in the world, is a vast land of dense forests, expansive tundras, and rugged coastlines. Our diverse landscapes are home to folklore, legends, and tales of mysterious creatures. These elusive beings have captured the imaginations of locals, researchers, and enthusiasts for generations. In this, the first of five spookier-themed episodes for October, let’s explore a few of Canada’s most intriguing legendary creatures. We’ll learn about a weird giant frog in Coleman, New Brunswick, a mythical people-eating creature in B.C., grumpy fairies in Quebec, and a few mythical and often terrifying creatures from the indigenous lore of Canada’s north.

Sources:

The Coleman Frog

Jump Into History With the Coleman Frog

It’s Something | Coleman Frog

Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl)

Book of Creatures | Baxbakwalanuxsiwae

Le bonhomme sept-heures

The Social Organization & Secret Societies of the Kwakiutl by Franz Boas | Internet Archive

Intellectual culture of the Hudson Bay Eskimos : Rasmussen, Knud | Internet Archive

A Book of Creatures | Canada

.: INUIT MYTHOLOGY:. | Mahaha

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