In the shadowy forests of northern Minnesota, legends speak of the Bagwajiwinini, small greenish humanoids said to dwell beneath the bracken fern canopy and sometimes lure humans away. Could these ancient tales hold a chilling connection to the tragic disappearance of grouse hunter Kory Kelly, whose fate still stirs whispers of abduction by the Little People?

In 2015, my friend and colleague Jc Johnson investigated several cryptid encounters and phenomena reported by residents in northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border. One of these cryptids is a race of small humanoids known by the indigenous Ojibwa as 'Bagwajiwinini,' or 'Wild Man.' Other tribes refer to them as 'Apa'iins' or 'Pai'iins,' which translates to 'Little Person.'

The Bagwajiwinini are described as being 2 to 3 feet tall, with a greenish complexion likely due to their heavy consumption of chlorophyll-rich plants. They inhabit a dimly lit world of thick bracken fern canopies, which can grow up to 3 feet high. This environment allows the Bagwajiwinini to roam freely among the forests and their edges without being detected. Numerous stories are associated with these creatures, including claims of human abduction.

Legends regarding the Bagwajiwinini almost uniformly advise that if one sights these creatures, it is best to leave them alone and walk away. In Massachusetts, there have been several historical and recent sightings of the Pukwudgie, with some reports suggesting these small creatures may even be responsible for local suicides and disappearances. Hockomock Swamp is noted by residents in Massachusetts for its eerie, swampy terrain. It is a thick, soupy bog that Native Americans historically considered a cursed and evil land.

A man named William Russo recounted his personal encounter with these creatures in his blog and later in his book, 'The Creature from the Bridgewater Triangle: And Other Odd Tales from New England.' He described a nighttime walk with his dog just south of Hockomock Swamp when a creature approximately 3 to 4 feet tall emerged about ten feet in front of him and his dog. Russo first spotted the creature under a streetlight; he reported that it was attempting to vocalize words and even beckoned him to come closer. Russo stated, “I had never heard of the Pukwudgies until Aaron Cadieux interviewed me for his documentary on the Bridgewater Triangle.” According to Wampanoag legend, a benevolent giant scattered the malevolent Pukwudgie across the land, with some of the less aggressive ones finding residence in the northern Midwest.

An Ojibwa woman who recalled an incident where her son saw a Bagwajiwinini playing a flute. Another witness, an Ojibwa man, shared a story about a time when he and his son were hunting and got separated. When the father tracked his son down, he found him stuck in the roots of a tree, with only his legs visible. After freeing him, the son recounted that the Bagwajiwinini had captured him and were attempting to take him underground. Lon

Was the disappearance of 39-year-old Kory Kelly? A newspaper account, published on October 16, 2007, gives details of the incident:

Northern Minnesota effort: Search for Kory Kelly brought out hundreds of volunteers

The effort last fall to find a lost grouse hunter exemplified the northern Minnesota spirit, showcasing the dedication of many, from a daycare owner who prepared meals for search teams to emergency personnel, K-9 partners, and the Canadian Air Force.

Kory Kelly, 39, went grouse hunting one year ago today in the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, located in a wilderness northeast of Fourtown. He was armed with a shotgun, carried a compass, and was accompanied by Sammy, a yellow Lab borrowed from his hunting partner.

On October 17, he was reported missing, prompting a search that eventually involved 62 agencies, hundreds of volunteers, and approximately 6,500 person-hours.

On Monday, the Bemidji Area Natural Resources Continuing Education Consortium sponsored a review of the emergency operations led by Beryl Wernberg, the 911 communications supervisor and emergency management director for the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management.

The presentation highlighted the responses to the emergency and the lessons learned in the remote areas of Beltrami and Lake of the Woods counties.

The search continued daily from October 17 to October 22 and resumed again from October 28 to October 30. Searchers returned to the area on November 7, November 9, and November 22, navigating through dense forests and swamps. Sammy, the dog, was found on October 26. Tragically, Kelly's body was discovered shortly after the search resumed in the spring. At 10:20 a.m. on April 27, Lake of the Woods Sheriff Dallas Block was flying over an area already searched in the fall when he spotted Kelly's body. Searchers had previously passed within 15 feet of the location but overlooked it due to the 8-foot-tall swamp grass. It was determined that Kelly had died from hypothermia. Helgeson Funeral Home in Baudette handled his body, and his brother, Brian, who was present throughout much of the search, was able to accompany Kelly's body.

One crucial lesson learned by both searchers and professionals was the immense courage required to hike for 16 hours daily through nearly impenetrable forests, swamps, and brush, and then confront the emotional weight of their efforts at the end of the day.

"This was a gut-wrenching experience," Wernberg said. "Toward the end, it took a lot of courage just to get up and go out again."

Morning briefings and evening debriefings were essential in gathering information about what each team member observed. Wernberg emphasized the importance of debriefings for emotional support as well.

"This becomes extremely personal for everyone involved," she explained.

Wernberg also stressed the necessity of keeping the family of the missing person in mind during such searches. In the case of Kelly’s family, Department of Natural Resources officers built a campfire to comfort them as they awaited news. Volunteers visited the family members, and DNR Officer Warren Thompson carved walking sticks with diamond engravings for Kelly's parents.

"We don’t want people to feel alone or isolated," Wernberg said.

Another lesson revealed the limitations of high-tech equipment in wilderness searches.

"We always bring our own generators," Wernberg noted. "There’s no place to plug in out in the middle of nowhere."

The tragedy also highlighted the community spirit and willingness of individuals to help, even strangers.

"Polaris paid their employees' wages to come and search for us," she recalled. "Marvin Windows did the same thing. Many volunteers took unpaid leave to assist with the effort. Every day, people from Grygla drove 32 miles round-trip to bring food. The generosity was incredible. I don’t think we can say thank you enough."

Wernberg expressed her amazement at the response from the Canadian Air Force. When the emergency was first reported, poor weather conditions grounded all flights. Wernberg contacted the Canadian Air Force, which was stationed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and received immediate support. However, Langley Air Force Base, where international flights require approval, hesitated, stating that no flights were occurring in the United States.

"I said, 'I don’t care. The Canadians will fly," Wernberg recounted.

She then worked to secure permission for the Canadian pilots to land.

Another important lesson learned was the importance of maintaining relationships and knowing officials who can expedite processes during emergencies.

Kelly went missing half a mile within Beltrami County, and his body was found 12 miles into Lake of the Woods County, just 1.25 miles from a road. Had he headed northwest when he realized he was lost, he would have reached a road; instead, he turned southeast. Along the route Kelly took, searchers found his hat, sweatshirt, coveralls, cigarettes, a lighter, and a shotgun shell from his weapon. (It’s common for individuals experiencing hypothermia to feel as if they are overheated.) However, they never located his shotgun.

NOTE: According to statements made by some members of the local Ojibwa band, they believe the Bagwajiwinini abducted Kory Kelly. Lon