Bearwalkers

[punisher]

I'm interested in bearwalker legends. I've got the major published accounts. Does anyone have personal accounts, accounts from friends/relatives, or accounts/legends published in local pamphlets/booklets/papers/magazines? Any info along these lines would be greatly appreciated. In you can, please provide as much factual data as possible so I can fill out the necessary bibliographic note. Also, if it is a published work, please provide as much of a citation as possible as I will need to double check. Thank you.

[LV426]

I'm interested in bearwalker legends. I've got the major published accounts. Does anyone have personal accounts, accounts from friends/relatives, or accounts/legends published in local pamphlets/booklets/papers/magazines? Any info along these lines would be greatly appreciated. In you can, please provide as much factual data as possible so I can fill out the necessary bibliographic note. Also, if it is a published work, please provide as much of a citation as possible as I will need to double check. Thank you.
I have read nothing on bearwalkers, the closest I ever came to such was studying berserkers because of the bear sarks that they wore and the ferocity of their behavior that led to shapeshifting lore.

Care to share what you know?

[Quicksilver]

Old norse that wore bear skins in battle were known as bear shirts... which became bear shirters... and through lovely scottish pronunciation.. berserkers...

[LV426]

Old norse that wore bear skins in battle were known as bear shirts... which became bear shirters... and through lovely scottish pronunciation.. berserkers...
It's Sark not shirt. They wore Bear Sarks, which is the skin of a bear, although berserkers wore other skins besides bear skins from what I gathered the bear was just more popular.

[punisher]

Sorry, I should have explained a bit what Bearwalking is. It is a Upper Peninsula of Michigan Indian tradition (mostly Anishinabe/Chippewa). A satchem changes into the form of a bear. Some do bad things when in the form of a bear, but this isn't inherent in the bear-walk. There is a strange light that is emmited when the satchem is in the form of the bear, and how you can tell the difference between a real bear and someone bearwalking. Most of the legends I have found involve the bearwalker using some love potion or poison on their target. (hopefully not on the same person)

[LV426]

Sorry, I should have explained a bit what Bearwalking is. It is a Upper Peninsula of Michigan Indian tradition (mostly Anishinabe/Chippewa). A satchem changes into the form of a bear. Some do bad things when in the form of a bear, but this isn't inherent in the bear-walk. There is a strange light that is emmited when the satchem is in the form of the bear, and how you can tell the difference between a real bear and someone bearwalking. Most of the legends I have found involve the bearwalker using some love potion or poison on their target. (hopefully not on the same person)
Punisher where did you hear about this? Share Damnit! You can't keep that all to yourself.

[Beserker Cub]

I have read nothing on bearwalkers, the closest I ever came to such was studying berserkers because of the bear sarks that they wore and the ferocity of their behavior that led to shapeshifting lore.

Care to share what you know?

It's Beserkers!! BEserkers...

[MetroSexual]

ber·serk adv.
ber·serkly adv.

Word History: When we say that we are going berserk, we may not realize how extreme a state this might be. Our adjective comes from the noun berserker, or berserk, which is from the Old Norse word berserkr, “a wild warrior or champion.” Such warriors wore hides of bears, which explains the probable origin of berserkr as a compound of *bera, “bear,” and serkr, “shirt, coat.” These berserkers became frenzied in battle, howling like animals, foaming at the mouth, and biting the edges of their iron shields. Berserker is first recorded in English in the early 19th century, long after these wild warriors ceased to exist.

you know, if you check your facts first before spouting off. You'll look less the fool.

[punisher]

Most of my info is from Bloodstoppers and Bearwalkers by Richard M. Dorson. This book actually only has 7 pages of bearwalker legends. There was also an anthropologist who went up in '58 after a court case involving a bearwalker. He published his findings in a now defunct small magazine called "Lost Seas" (if memory serves). I learned about it from my great aunt who was born up there. She moved to the Lower Peninsula when she married into a family that lived on the Hidden Road reservation. She used to leave her light on every full moon because she was afraid of bearwalkers. She put all the legends she remembered on tape in the 70's but I can't find them. My grandmother is looking for me. I was hoping others also put down legends to tape, or wrote them down. It would be a shame to lose these. I'm looking to compile them into a more comprehensive book on the subject.

[punisher]

Oh, one of the horror writers in the Detroit area, Steven Lee Climer, wrote a book called "The Bearwalker" a while ago. He only had heard of the book that I already mentioned though.

[LV426]

It's Beserkers!! BEserkers...
Cub you need to calm yourself down. I know about the Berserkers, I have read a about them, but what punisher is talking about is not the same thing.

[Beserker Cub]

ber·serk adv.
ber·serkly adv.

Word History: When we say that we are going berserk, we may not realize how extreme a state this might be. Our adjective comes from the noun berserker, or berserk, which is from the Old Norse word berserkr, “a wild warrior or champion.” Such warriors wore hides of bears, which explains the probable origin of berserkr as a compound of *bera, “bear,” and serkr, “shirt, coat.” These berserkers became frenzied in battle, howling like animals, foaming at the mouth, and biting the edges of their iron shields. Berserker is first recorded in English in the early 19th century, long after these wild warriors ceased to exist.

you know, if you check your facts first before spouting off. You'll look less the fool.

doh... I know there's a word 'berserk' and NOW I know even more what it means. But there were BEserkers in the old days. Fierce warriors who would not flee from the battle etc. etc.