Oniare is a horned dragon-like snake that breathes both poison and fire (talk about bad breath!). The name “Oniare” is the Mohawk word for "snake.” But the legend of the serpentine creature living in Lake Erie actually originated in First Nations culture.įirst Nations groups in the Lake Erie region, particularly the Iroquois tribe, would speak of Oniare (“own-yar-eh”), a water spirit that lives in the Great Lakes. Oniare, the ancient water spirit of the Great Lakesīessie has been the subject of superstitious sailors, drunk tourists, and newspaper hoaxes over the centuries. Luckily for the women, Bessie was more interested in folicking in Lake Erie’s waves than overturning boats that day. Theresa Kovach, a woman from Akron, described the creature as reptilian and snake-like, with big flippers-much like those of a Plesiosaur.Īccording to Theresa, the creature was so large it could have easily capsized a boat and it seemed to be playing. In the 1980s, two women spotted the Lake Erie Monster. Indeed, Bessie has been called reptilian. This was the first ever reported sighting of Bessie.īessie's great great great great great great great great great grandmother, Leslie. He reported that the creature was huge-easily over 5 meters long-though it disappeared before he could get a better look at it. Suddenly, the captain sees something that makes his blood run cold.Īccording to the captain, an enormous serpent had started thrashing around near his boat, having been startled by the gunshots. His loud shots ring out, echoing over the still water. It’s 1793 and the captain of the Felicity is steering his sailboat through the shallows of Lake Erie’s islands, duck hunting and admiring the rugged natural beauty of the area. Please reach out to us if any information on this page is incorrect or inappropriate so that we can address the issue. We understand that the following material has deep roots in Indigenous ancestral knowledge.Īs we acknowledge the history and culture of the Indigenous people who have lived in the Great Lakes region for time immemorial, we realize that we may not always have access to the traditional wisdom surrounding a topic. At Great Lakes Guide, we strive to recognize and celebrate First Nations culture in and around the Great Lakes.
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