Bart Cutino Member Of The Olympic Project Remains Relatively Hopeful & Realistic About DNA Testing Results

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Damian Bravo, a Sasquatch believer. You can join Damian's group Sasquatch Lives? on Facebook and the group's official page at www.sasquatchlives.com.

Since the recent increase in buzz regarding the possible release of the Ketchum papers, the heavy debates that have happened in many of the blog sites around the Relict Hominoid community have been more than overwhelming. As you may have noticed in many of my posts, I try to not use the word Bigfoot too much. My thinking is that we need to start pulling away from using this terminology so we can start giving more credibility to the dedicated scientists, biologists, and researchers who are putting their reputations on the line in the quest to find Sasquatch (The name Sasquatch derives from a Native American language called Halkomelem, and translates as "hairy man." The term refers to a large, ape-like biped that is also part of the Native Americans beliefs).

Many of us hope and desire to see a conclusion to this legend and see it become a proven fact. In all this craziness from this past week, I had the opportunity to touch base with another member of The Olympic Project, Bart Cutino, who once again gave me this exclusive to answer some of my questions.

Bart is a member of CA-BFRO, the AIBR, and recently accepted to become part of The Olympic Projects stellar team.

My Questions:

Bart, many people are excited to see you on board and part of the project. I was wondering, after you captured the supposed first thermal images of a Bigfoot, what was you first reaction when you saw this image? Have you seen a Hominoid of this type before? Did the image solidify your years of searching and did it give you a sense of satisfaction seeing such amazing details of the Hominoids bulk and size?

Also, what do you think will happen if and when the results of the DNA testing by Dr. Ketchum confirm the Hominoids existence? Do you think the scientists and biologists that are skeptics will finally come on board and help in the true study and classification of the species, regardless if the findings show a closeness to humans or not?

Bart Cutino’s Answers:

Did want to tell you though that the subject I witnessed through the thermal imager that night in WA 2007 was not recorded unfortunately (The BFRO report will explain perfectly why). It was just an amazing and life changing definitive sighting for me. The images you see from Bigfoot Evidence headline are actually a commemorative re-creation of the anatomical description of subject (he nailed it) courtesy of a Bigfoot Canadian artist, Brian Cundle. A lot of people get these facts confused but those are just re-creations. (see photo below)

A commemorative re-creation of the subject, courtesy of Bigfoot Canadian artist Brian Cundle.

Thanks Damian,

As a proud longtime member of two highly respected & very visible organizations in this field in both the Bigfoot Field Researcher’s Organization (BFRO) & Alliance Of Independent Bigfoot Researchers (AIBR), I’ve been fortunate & proud the last nine years to work with some of the finest people ever involved in this research. My primary objective is, and has always been, to either directly or indirectly facilitate inevitable discovery of these primates (who’ve collectively remained unscathed from official scientific recognition into present-day) through aggressive field efforts and public education on species viability in North America from a rational & ecological standpoint. With respect to these goals, I’m honored to join another very active and respected organization in The Olympic Project, whose research ideals parallel my own and whose membership is made up of not only outstanding researchers, but friends and highly respected colleagues.

After a lifelong passion for pursuit, my path as a researcher physically began in the spring of 2004 & culminated in the late summer of 2007 with a very definitive, roughly three-minute late night thermal encounter in the Northern Cascades of Washington State. Although I wasn’t able to record the subject that night due to technological limitations at the time, to have definitive personal confirmation after so many years of possibility and fascination, was a life changing event for me. The subject I witnessed that night from fifty (initially), to thirty-three yards (eventually), through a ten-foot clear “window” through the trees (it never vacated), cautiously acknowledged me from behind a tree, rapidly transitioned and maneuvered effortlessly on all fours using tremendous agility and body leverage (with disproportionate weight distribution, top to bottom) before standing “frozen” like a stealthy statue in the clear with its back to me.

Although the subject’s unique and stunning profile was unequivocal from my viewpoint (full profile north of calves), the second stunning realization was comparing my field partner’s 6’3, 170 lb, “winter-clothed” frame to the subject’s estimated half-foot height advantage and triple-weight body mass complete with lengthy arms and massive shoulders.

http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=26065

The realization of that night in 2007 wasn’t just limited to the reality of the subject I unexpectedly witnessed, if I wanted to go further down that path as a researcher, “knowledge & discipline” would almost certainly have to accompany my “drive and passion.”

Regardless, it would take more than three more years (February, 2011) of countless field nights and locations for another definitive interaction. This time in my home state of California in the northern coastal redwoods. My partner, CA State Park Ranger Robert Leiterman and I, captured video of reciprocal “knocking” and a progressive/aggressive tree destruction response event from instigative & intended provoking techniques. Due to the rarity of any interaction, to capture that event in the context of it happening “live” is something we’re admittedly very proud of:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5SNqAtFUM8

In regards to the heavily anticipated DNA study, researchers, enthusiasts and interested skeptics alike await results with a myriad of expectations & excitement and subject interest is feverishly high. From my personal perspective, I sit back relatively hopeful, but I remain realistic, cautious and restrained. Although I’ve believed for a long time, that barring collection of a newly deceased specimen, the logical “bypass” highway to discovery is through DNA & genome sequencing; realistically, I expect tempered acknowledgment (at best) of this “improbable species” from the standpoint of perceived lack of viability through the eyes of both science and the core general public.... until dead or alive, the actual eyes of a physical sasquatch are staring directly back at them.

That potential reality, coupled with the fact that the totality of hoaxes, blurry pictures, dead ends and ridiculous name “bigfoot,” which absent any plurality, understandably still gives an uneducated public the perception that people like us still chase one mythical animal with a perpetual lifespan. If we step back however, and accept that to be valid, “discovery” may have to patiently come in phases, it’s much easier to anticipate & appreciate the opportunities that are always in front of us ......not to mention....the one that “may’ve” just landed on our doorstep.

Bart Cutino
CA-BFRO, AIBR & The Olympic Project

As Bart stated, I also am hopeful but remain realistic. Whatever the Ketchum papers bring to the table, we must review them with patience and diligence; let’s not make hypostasis of what we do not know. Like he also stated, “discovery” may have to patiently come in phases. As we view these events as they unfold in the months to come, we will hopefully start a new and amazing journey. The scientists and biologists that have come onboard and researchers like Bart Cutino give me a sense of hope to realize my own childhood dream of watching these Hominoids become part of the new discoveries that await mankind.

Damian Bravo
SasquatchLives@groups.facebook.com
www.sasquatchlives.com