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Native American Legends: Boqs
Name: Boqs
Also known as: Skookum
Tribal affiliation: Bella Coola,
Chinook,
Salish
Type: Forest spirit,
Bigfoot
Related figures in other tribes: Sasquatch (Coast Salish),
Siatco (Chehalis)
Boqs are large, hairy wild men of the forest. In the folklore of more northern tribes, such as the Bella Coola,
boqs are malevolent, dangerous monsters who may eat people or molest women. But in Chinook and Salishan
versions of these legends, Boqs are sometimes depicted as more benign beings like the Halkomelem Sasquatch.
Sometimes Boqs are also called by the name "Skookum," which is a word from the Chinook Jargon trade language
meaning "big" or "powerful." This is sometimes a source of confusion, because "Skookum" has been used in
Chinook literature to refer to many different sorts of powerful beings, not just Boqs.
Sponsored Links
Boqs:
Bella Coola (Nuxalk) legends about the Boqs.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
Coyote Was Going There: Indian Literature of the Oregon Country:
Excellent collection of folklore from the Chinook and other Oregon tribes.
Salish Myths and Legends:
Anthology of legends from the Bella Coola and other Salish tribes.
The Mythology Of The Bella Coola Indians:
Collection of Nuxalk legends and traditional stories.
Additional Resources
Chinook spirits
Chinook Jargon
Bella Coola language
Chinook people
Languages of British Columbia
Northwest tribes
Wakashan languages
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