Comments on: Kushtaka: Alaska’s Otter Hominid http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/ Gnosticism, Forteana, fun and more from a modern Gnostic Minister. Formerly "Fantastic Planet." The opinions expressed hereon are solely those of the author, and do not represent the opinions of The Palm Tree Garden Gnostic Community. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:50:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Emperor http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-18 Emperor Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:39:19 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-18 Good find. It sounds a bit like the selkie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie But also of interest is the Master Otter. From a newspaper overview of weird British cryptids that I have on "file": -- THE SDOBHAR-CHU Irish Legend has it that the master otter or Sdobhar-chu is a huge, rarely seen otter. Even the smallest portion of its pelt is said to have the power to prevent gunshot wounds, horse injuries and shipwreck. Young Grace Connolly was allegedly killed by a Sdobhar-chu in Co Leitrim's Glenade Lake. Her killer was slain by her husband, but the creature's enraged mate emerged from the lake and pursued him until he killed it. Grace's gravestone in Conwall cemetery, dated 24 September 1722, bears a carving of the Sdobhar-chu with dog-like body and limbs, a long tail with tufted tip, large paws, a long neck and short head with otter-like ears. In May 1968, sightings of a beast resembling the one on the stone were made off the coast of Co Mayo. -- See also: www.blather.net/blather/1998/08/the_dobhar_chu_a_very_strange.html Good find.

It sounds a bit like the selkie:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie

But also of interest is the Master Otter. From a newspaper overview of weird British cryptids that I have on “file”:

–
THE SDOBHAR-CHU

Irish Legend has it that the master otter or Sdobhar-chu is a huge, rarely seen otter. Even the smallest portion of its pelt is said to have the power to prevent gunshot wounds, horse injuries and shipwreck. Young Grace Connolly was allegedly killed by a Sdobhar-chu in Co Leitrim’s Glenade Lake. Her killer was slain by her husband, but the creature’s enraged mate emerged from the lake and pursued him until he killed it. Grace’s gravestone in Conwall cemetery, dated 24 September 1722, bears a carving of the Sdobhar-chu with dog-like body and limbs, a long tail with tufted tip, large paws, a long neck and short head with otter-like ears. In May 1968, sightings of a beast resembling the one on the stone were made off the coast of Co Mayo.
–

See also:
www.blather.net/blather/1998/08/the_dobhar_chu_a_very_strange.html

]]> By: JP http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-19 JP Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:20:20 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-19 Freakin' awesome! Of all the weird possible cryptids, I think were-otter must be the strangest.... Freakin’ awesome! Of all the weird possible cryptids, I think were-otter must be the strangest….

]]> By: Mtn Angl http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-329 Mtn Angl Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:16:15 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-329 If you're intrigued there is a fiction novel called "Raven Stole the Moon" (can't remember the author's name), it's about a woman that loses her child to the Kushtaka and tries to steal back his soul. Very good book, I've read it twice in the last year. If you’re intrigued there is a fiction novel called “Raven Stole the Moon” (can’t remember the author’s name), it’s about a woman that loses her child to the Kushtaka and tries to steal back his soul. Very good book, I’ve read it twice in the last year.

]]> By: keith http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-331 keith Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:26:54 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/06/07/kushtaka-alaskas-otter-hominid/#comment-331 I dont know if you found this information in your research but there iS a reason your guide would not give detailed info on the kushtaka. in tlingits legend, uttering the word kushtaka or telling stories involving kushtaka was believed to be bad luck and likely to bring the kushtaka to you. Tlingit people did not hunt or use river otter pelt for the same reason. there is a legend of a tlingit woman who didnt like her husband, so she sewed some river otter pelt into his clothing. he was abducted by kushtaka and became one of them. also, tlingit legends are considered private property, so to to speak. tligits had no writen language, and used legends and stories to prove ownership of land and other resources, so legends have a kind of unwritten copywrite, belonging to the clan of origin. this is a another reason you guide may have been elusive on answering your questions . I dont know if you found this information in your research but there iS a reason your guide would not give detailed info on the kushtaka. in tlingits legend, uttering the word kushtaka or telling stories involving kushtaka was believed to be bad luck and likely to bring the kushtaka to you. Tlingit people did not hunt or use river otter pelt for the same reason. there is a legend of a tlingit woman who didnt like her husband, so she sewed some river otter pelt into his clothing. he was abducted by kushtaka and became one of them.
also, tlingit legends are considered private property, so to to speak. tligits had no writen language, and used legends and stories to prove ownership of land and other resources, so legends have a kind of unwritten copywrite, belonging to the clan of origin. this is a another reason you guide may have been elusive on answering your questions .

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