

2023 Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival Presenters

Mr. Thom Cantrall
Thom is a 5th generation of the west. After spending 9 years in the US Navy, the majority of which was as a Missile Technician aboard a Polaris Submarine, Thom was discharged while living on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. He began college in Port Angeles, WA and finished his degree Logging Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. During this time, he owned and operated a small logging company on the North and West ends of the Peninsula. It was sightings at this time that fanned the flames of interest that were kindled by the Jerry Crew Incident in N. California in 1958 and eventually led to his current work. Being a mainstay in the Sasquatch Community, Thom’s findings have shaped current thoughts on Sasquatch and he has mentored many researchers in this field. He is a prolific writer and a popular speaker at many Sasquatch conferences in addition to having authored 13 books on Sasquatch, he has written many essays that are available to be read on his website, www.thomcantrall.com Thom and his work continue to inspire the community and he continues to attend as many conferences as he is physically able to attend in person.
http://www.ghostsofrubyridge.com/sasquatch-the-living-legend/

Mr. Thomas Sewid
Thomas Sewid is a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) Tribe from northeastern Vancouver Island British Columbia and is also half Cree Native from central Canada. A commercial fisherman all his life, he has journeyed the entire coast comparing information about Sasquatch with others who believe or have had encounters. 30 years ago, he was sent out into his traditional territories located between Vancouver Island and the mainland known as The Broughton Archipelago to be a watchman of his Peoples’ abandoned Indian Village.
This began his life to live in the bush year round, being a grizzly bear hunting guide, fishing guide and Eco-tourism operator. He would also volunteer to be the lone watchman for logging camps during the winter shutdown deep in isolated inlets throughout the coast. He would have encounters with the creatures and it stirred up interest to learn more about them.
He lives part-time in Kent Washington with his partner Peggy and they conduct Sasquatch/Bigfoot tours and expeditions with www.sasquatchisland.com. Peggy does the Tzoonakwa/Sasquatch and Bokwus/Stick People dance for their operations and at Sasquatch conferences. Having studied under Dr. John Bindernagel and learning about researching the creatures, Tom’s incorporated his ancestral native teachings and ways to share a greater understanding about the migratory patterns of the Pacific Northwest Sasquatch/Bigfoot.
Thomas operates the Facebook group Sasquatch Island (ask to join) to share the native perspectives to the creatures with all. Many heard him when he did numerous episodes with other Internet Radio shows and years of doing television shows about the creatures. Tom also has the YouTube Channel Sasquatch Island (subscribe please).
Thomas is host of the new television series in production called Sasquatch Island, The other Tribe. The name is in reference to the indigenous people of North America referring to the continent as Turtle Island. Seeing as every tribe has stories of the creatures, the name of show and Facebook Group Thomas manages is in reference to the continent being Sasquatch Island.
Thomas is also a host or co-host of other Sasquatch related shows in production. He is now regarded as one of the leading North American Indian speakers on Sasquatch.
The best way to find or contact Thomas is on his Facebook group Sasquatch Island or go to his expedition website www.sasquatchisland.com.

Squatch America
Scot Violette, who grew up in Summerville, Oregon, graduated from Imbler High School and moved to Baker City with his wife, Hannah, in 2012.
“I do believe they exist. I think the proof is right there.”
Scot’s interest in this most famous of “cryptids” – animals whose existence has not been conclusively proved – dates to age 7 and an afternoon trip to watch a movie and witnessed for the first time the Patterson/Gimlin film.
Scot, a student of Anthropology, has devote his life to pursuing what mainstream science long ago decided was merely a myth.
Violette’s dedication to the pursuit of Bigfoot is considerable.
“It’s important to me that science eventually accepts this,” he said. “It’s not just a reason to go out into the woods.”
Hannah Violette is a city-born urbanite who only discovered that the outside was bigger than her backyard after marrying her country boy.
She never gave Bigfoot a thought – and has only recently watched “Harry and the Hendersons” – until Scot started presenting his finds for her opinion and consideration.
She has since learned to love hiking and camping. While greatly appreciating the scientific approach to Bigfoot research, she is far more interested in the Native American and other cultures’ lore surrounding the subject. She is an accomplished researcher writer and educator and uses her skills to blog about their squatching life on the road as well as bring levity and personal growth to her own readers. She also helps people get healthy so they can go on their own squatching adventures without running out of breath.

Mr. Terrance James
Terrance N. James, PhD, is a retired educator and author of a dozen books of non-fiction, including biography, education, local history, and social psychology. He enjoyed a 25 year friendship with Dr. John Bindernagel during which he vicariously participated in Dr. John’s sasquatch research and sympathetically supported his friend’s frustration with the scientific community. Dr. John Bindernagel, an icon in North American sasquatch/bigfoot research, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by the International Bigfoot Conference in recognition of the longevity and significance of his research and advocacy for sasquatches. Before Dr. John passed in 2018 it was his wish that the unfolding story of the discovery of the sasquatch/bigfoot be put on record. Terrance James has honoured that request in Sasquatch Discovered: The Biography of Dr. John Bindernagel.
Dr. James resides on Vancouver Island, in the Comox Valley, with his wife Joan. They are parents of four and grandparents to eleven. He is past president of the Comox Valley Writers Society.

Mr. Jesus Payan
Jesus Payan Jr. is an actor who plays Gonzo on the Hit Series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, along with numerous other hit movies with John Cena , Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington and so many more!
Jesus Jr. began his lifelong quest to find and understand the reality of the elusive Sasquatch. He was chosen as one of the field researchers for the “Falcon Project.” He was featured on FINDING BIGFOOT on their “Four corners episode on the Upper Fruitland Navajo Reservation where Jesus Jr. threw the first Bigfoot Conference ever on that reservation.
He’s worked with numerous PHD’s in Anthropology and was part of the Cryptid Hominid Genome Project. Now he has teamed up with MonsterQuest Producer – Creator Doug Hajicek on some new endeavors. He’s been face to face with a Sasquatch within 10 feet of him as well as other sightings. He’s been researching Sasquatch in and out of the field for 33 years and sharing his research on his YouTube channel Breaking Bigfoot.