A Gay Ghost Hunter's Snippets of Life… and the Afterlife
Rather than write a long post today about a haunting or paranormal tale, I thought I would indulge your eyes and ears in a more visual method. Thanks to the creative people behind Paranormal TV, I bring you a fascinating video about spirits of Arizona’s southwestern desert canyons.
From Navajo legend to ghostly occurrence, I present to you the story of the Shinday in “Red Feather and the Spirits of the Dead“:
Ah, Alaska. The land of caribou, soon-to-be-extinct glaciers, the Aurora Borealis, Eskimos, and perhaps something a little more sinister.
And I do mean ‘little‘…
At least that’s what an email, which has been circulating as a warning, seems to be telling the locals. The Alaskan Bush isn’t so safe. In the tundra lurks the ircenrraq, lying in wait to disorient, discomfort, and trap unsuspecting humans.
Ircenrraat, from Central Alaskan Yup’ik tradition, are little, mischievous creatures who live in the tundra. While their meddlesome ways often are notorious among the native peoples, every so often the myth attracts a little outside attention.
On May 7th, a man from Marshall stumbled across a young boy at Pilcher Mountain, all alone, in an area inhabited by large tundra brown bears. He was confused and has been crying. He had no recollection of where he was or how he had gotten there. He did, however, recall being lead away by “little beings” to the site where he encountered a young girl who had been kidnapped in a similar manner some 40 years prior. The ircenrraat decided to release him… at which point he was discovered by the man.
Similar stories have been heard over the years, and Pilcher Mountain itself is alleged to be a hotbed of ircenrraat activity. Thanks to the worldwide web, the man’s warning email was forwarded on and his tale reached an Anchorage reporter.
Was the youth telling the truth? Do small creatures resembling elves or gnomes conceal themselves in the frozen Arctic?
Or has the permafrost and lack of daylight warped people’s imaginations?
I don’t have a single drop of Native American blood coursing through my veins. That does not mean I’m not extremely curious about the myths, lore, and history surrounding the early civilizations of the Americas. And oddly enough, I’ve had a few unexplainable experiences involving Native spirits during my life… experiences which still sometimes haunt me to this day.
In our modern times, the Eastern Woodland tribes of the Midwest are a distant memory. We are left with a few artifacts (arrowheads, mounds, and sparse monuments) acknowledging their existence in the region over thousands of years. The few whom were left were forced West in the early 1800s and late 1700s. Some descendants still can be found in the Southwest, though much of the original cultures are forgotten.
A few years ago, I stumbled across Antonio Garcez’s website while browsing paranormal topics. It was sheer coincidence that someone mentioned his name and recommended his work. I bookmarked his site and ventured on with my research, soon forgetting the page in my hundreds of saved links.
Many months later, an email from the author reawakened my intrigue. He combines two of my favorite topics: Native American history and the paranormal. His books reveal hints of “entities” throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and other scenic, arid areas of the United States. On a backdrop of adobe homes and graceful canyons, the spirit world comes alive once more.
Not only is his website beautifully designed, but his work is truly outstanding. Before he came along, most books dealing with “ghost towns” failed to mention the supernatural aspects of these places. Starting in New Mexico, he began scouring the Southwest in search of ghosts. He spoke with regular people and discovered a fount of tales and plans to embark on further explorations around the country. There is even talk of television and film work based on his writing.
I have to admire the mavericks of the world who blaze new trails in the paranormal community. People like Garcez keep the field interesting…