The Vanishing at Lake Angikuni - Fact or Fiction?

Summary

The video explores the mysterious disappearance of an Inuit village near Lake Anjikuni in Nunavut, Canada. It delves into the original 1930 newspaper account by Emmett E. Keller, subsequent retellings by Frank Edwards, and skepticism raised by Dwight Whalen and John Colombo. The narrative examines various theories, including supernatural explanations and police cover-ups, while highlighting the lack of concrete evidence and the conflicting stories that have turned the incident into an enduring mystery.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video discusses the mysterious disappearance of an Inuit village near Lake Anjikuni in Nunavut, Northern Canada.
• 📚 The story was popularized by Frank Edwards in his 1959 book 'Stranger Than Science', but it has earlier origins.
• 📰 The original story was published in a newspaper article by Emmett E. Keller on November 27, 1930, in The Bee from Danville, Georgia.
• 🧐 Trapper Joe Labelle discovered the deserted village with personal belongings left behind but no signs of struggle or the villagers.
• 🐾 Labelle encountered two nearly starved huskies and found a grave with stones moved, but no body inside.
• 🤔 The Inuit folklore mentions an evil spirit named Thornraark, which some villagers blamed for the disappearance.
• 👮‍♂️ The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were involved in the investigation but found no concrete leads or evidence.
• 📖 In Frank Edwards' version, there are discrepancies such as the method of Labelle's arrival and the presence of dead dogs tied to tree stumps.
• 🔍 Skeptic Dwight Whalen attempted to debunk the story in 1976, suggesting it might be a hoax or exaggerated tale.
• 🏛 The RCMP officially considers the story to be an urban legend, with no records or evidence to support the event's occurrence.
• 💬 The video leaves the audience with the question of whether the story is a debunked myth or an unsolved mystery, inviting further discussion.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the mysterious disappearances, specifically focusing on the story of a whole village that seemingly goes missing, known as the Vanishing Village of Lake Anjikuni.

Who is credited with the original story of the vanishing village?

The original story is credited to Emmett E. Keller, who wrote an article titled 'Vanish Eskimo Tribe Gibbs, North Mystery Stranger Than Fiction' published on November 27th, 1930 by The Bee newspaper from Danville, Georgia.

What role does Frank Edwards play in the story of the vanishing village?

Frank Edwards is credited with popularizing the story in his 1959 book 'Stranger Than Science,' where he presents a slightly altered version of the story, suggesting it as a fact and possibly referencing a police report.

What is the significance of the name Thornraark in the story?

Thornraark, possibly referring to Thorne Garsuk, an Inuit sky god, is mentioned in the story as a possible explanation for the villagers' disappearance, according to Inuit folklore.

What was the initial reaction of Joe Labelle upon arriving at the village?

Joe Labelle was greeted by two nearly starved huskies instead of his Inuit friends, and he found seven dog corpses, which aroused his suspicion about the village's sudden abandonment.

What did Labelle find inside the huts of the village?

Inside the huts, Labelle found personal belongings of the tribe's people, including deerskin parkas, boots, clothes in the process of being sewn, and greasy iron pots, but no human remains.

What was the significance of the opened grave with no body inside?

The opened grave with no body inside was one of the strangest findings during Labelle's investigation, adding to the mystery of the villagers' disappearance.

What was the outcome of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) involvement in the case?

The RCMP was equally puzzled by the case and could not find any concrete evidence or explanation for the villagers' disappearance, leaving the case unsolved.

What is the significance of the 1931 police report mentioned in the video?

The 1931 police report, allegedly released by the RCMP Commissioner Cortland Starnes, contains a denial of the event by Sergeant Jay Nelson, suggesting that the whole story might have been a hoax.

What does the video suggest about the authenticity of the vanishing village story?

The video suggests that the story is largely debunked due to the lack of concrete evidence, inconsistencies in the story, and the fact that the RCMP has no record of the event or the police reports mentioned in various versions of the story.

What are the two main explanations provided by the video for the vanishing village story?

The two main explanations are: 1) The police reports do not exist, suggesting that Joe Labelle may not have existed, and there is no evidence of the village's existence. 2) The police reports from the 1930s do exist but are lost, which would support the idea that the story was a hoax.