For the Squamish Nation, the Sasquatch are known as the Smaylilh (the "Wild People"). According to local oral tradition, these beings are not merely monsters, but a tribe of secretive, often powerful people who share a common ancestry with humans. Oral accounts tell of the Te Smailetl, describing their origins in the Squamish backcountry from time immemorial. Another ancient figure is Kalkalilh (the Basket Ogress), a giant forest-dwelling woman from Squamish legends used to teach children respect for the land and their community.
Squamish has remained a global hotspot for "Bigfoot" enthusiasts due to its vast, rugged wilderness. One of the most famous recent "sightings" occurred in 2011 when when a wildlife biologist filmed a dark, bipedal figure moving at incredible speed up a steep, snowy slope at 2,000 metres (The Tricouni Peak Video). The figure's lack of gear and rapid pace led many to believe it was a Sasquatch.

Sightings continue to be reported near Alice Lake and the Tantalus Range. These accounts often describe a massive, hair-covered creature that possesses an unsettling ability to vanish into the dense brush at will.

The legend of the Sasquatch in Squamish is special because it bridges the gap between ancient Indigenous spirituality and modern scientific curiosity. To the Squamish Nation, the Smaylilh are sacred guardians of the forest and symbols of the balance between humanity and nature. For the wider community, the mystery of the Sasquatch serves as a humbling reminder that there are still wild, untamed corners of the Sea-to-Sky corridor where we are only visitors.