Most likely true,althought those 18-19th foot tall probably were much smaller.
I just read book of Sebastian R.Bielak "Po bezdrożach Alaski"/my translation -" on bad roads of Alasca"
About his work as volunteer for american WWildlife refugees there.
First,Kenai,was pretty normal,but next in Galena was really wild,and people there belived in their version of Big Foot,which is named as Woodsman there.
Basically everybody belived in it/althought none personally saw it/,it supposed to have little over 2m,hairy,live in small groyps and communicate in grunts and whistles.
It also stinks,which probably mean,that it is carrion-eater.
People fear to talk about it too much,becouse it could hurt them later,and local indians belive that it is evil creature which hunt people if it can.
Everybody belive,that it could mad itself partially invisible,do not made any sounds,and could paralyse people when it look in their eyes.
I hope,that it is true.Alasca with Woodsmen is certainly more interesting !