Why do we discuss Canada's attempted cultural genocide as it's

[tango]

Reminds me of Old Sarum from Ancient Briton.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Sarum

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/...9_1MB_SMALL.jpg

Ya, incredible similarities.

Stonehenge is the same kind of 'circle' as found at the 'mound people' locations.

http://pages.interlog.com/~gilgames/cahokia.htm

# "Woodhenge": an ancient astronomical device, also called a "sun-circle" (in the upper-left)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mound_builder_(people)

Mound Builder is a general term referring to prehistoric inhabitants of North America who constructed various styles of earthen mounds for burial, residential and ceremonial purposes. These included Archaic, Woodland period (Adena and Hopewell cultures), and Mississippian period Pre-Columbian cultures dating from roughly 3000 BCE to the 16th century CE, and living in the Great Lakes region, the Ohio River region, the Mississippi River region.[1]

While the prevailing consensus since the 19th century has been that the mounds were constructed by Native American tribes still extant at the time of European colonization of North America, none are aware of the civilizations that produced the mounds. Research into this culture is strictly archaeological.

Nobody knows ... nobody speaks ... but they are still here.

Edited August 20, 2009 by tango

[Bonam]

I'm not trying to prove that. I don't know. I'm just providing information about the established civilizations in North America prior to 'contact'.

I found this statement fascinating:

At its height, around A.D. 1200, it had about the same population as London, England at the time, with over 10,000 people.

Indeed, quite fascinating. It can also be interesting to speculate about why North American cultures didn't progress much past that, while Europeans cities continued to grow.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/dgarneau/indian6.htm

1,000 B.C.

The Ojibwa are believed to have created rock carvings in Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Ontario starting about this time. Joe Lister suggests; "Actually, the glyphs were made by the Iroquois peoples who inhabited the area long before the Ojibwe arrived. The Ojibwe from Curve Lake Reserve help to caretake the area, and hold ceremony there, but they do not know any of the stories that the images represent. The Iroquois, on the other hand, do know the images, and can tell the stories behind most of them. For instance, our creation story is there, with Sky Woman birthing her twins."

I think we should be willing to learn about and understand the cultures that existed here, before we 'interfered' with them.

There is a whole lot more to their story, and ours, than we are 'encouraged' to know.

I'm all for learning new things and acquiring new knowledge. Of course, one can only learn so much (at least for now) and must prioritize. Clearly, we can't all become experts on the native cultures that existed here prior to the arrival of Europeans. For some, such knowledge may be of practical value, while for others, it may rather be extraneous.

[tango]

Indeed, quite fascinating. It can also be interesting to speculate about why North American cultures didn't progress much past that, while Europeans cities continued to grow.

Considering the topic of this thread, I should think that's obvious.

I'm all for learning new things and acquiring new knowledge. Of course, one can only learn so much (at least for now) and must prioritize. Clearly, we can't all become experts on the native cultures that existed here prior to the arrival of Europeans. For some, such knowledge may be of practical value, while for others, it may rather be extraneous.

It's important to all Canadians, if we are to understand how Sec 35 of our constitution (Aboriginal rights) and the laws derived from that came about, like the duty to consult with Indigenous Peoples about development on their traditional lands.

[Guest TrueMetis]

I think this thread has inspired me to become an Archaeologist.

[tango]

I think this thread has inspired me to become an Archaeologist.

GO TrueMetis! GO TrueMetis! GO TrueMetis!

Fascinating, isn't it!

And we know so little ...

Edited August 20, 2009 by tango

[M.Dancer]

That is Awesome so much for needing Iron age Agriculture.

Right. To feed a population of 10,000 is no big deal....Now find 10,000 more communities such as that to get 10 million...

Good luck finding 100

[DogOnPorch]

Ya, incredible similarities.

Stonehenge is the same kind of 'circle' as found at the 'mound people' locations.

Well...kinda. Stonehenge is still there and it is many times older. Great Britain is brimming with history from times past. With the exception of the Mesoamerican civilizations, masonry seems to have been a skill not mastered in many areas of the Americas.

Nobody knows ... nobody speaks ... but they are still here.

Maybe...maybe not. Their civilization fell due to several possible reasons including overtaxing the land's resources and invasion (to name two). So it's hard to say without DNA evidence.

[DogOnPorch]

Right. To feed a population of 10,000 is no big deal....Now find 10,000 more communities such as that to get 10 million...

Good luck finding 100

One hundred million hunter-gatherers would have made short work of much of North America's wildlife.

[bush_cheney2004]

One hundred million hunter-gatherers would have made short work of much of North America's wildlife.

That's right....some of this wishful thinking flunks basic math.

[M.Dancer]

One hundred million hunter-gatherers would have made short work of much of North America's wildlife.

If you consider that the pop. of Europe at 1000 AD was around 36 million....and was stretched ....

[Riverwind]

If you consider that the pop. of Europe at 1000 AD was around 36 million....and was stretched ....

And they had draft animals in Europe.

[M.Dancer]

And they had draft animals in Europe.

...to pull plows...

[bush_cheney2004]

...to pull plows...

.....yea....that's why they are called "draft" or "draught" animals.

[M.Dancer]

.....yea....that's why they are called "draft" or "draught" animals.

Draft is okay....although for some reason I prefer draught when it comes to pulling pints

[bush_cheney2004]

Draft is okay....although for some reason I prefer draught when it comes to pulling pints

Thinking about it, I'll bet North American Bison could do it too. Maybe take a bigger yoke.....

[M.Dancer]

Thinking about it, I'll bet North American Bison could do it too. Maybe take a bigger yoke.....

And 2000 years of selective breeding.

North American indians were never able to domestic a single animal...the dog came over from asia with them and the horse was brought (back) by the Spanish.

The success rate for domestication was somewhat better in South America where the alpaca and the llama were tamed and turkeys were kept. Niether of them four footed animals though can pull a plow....which according to some explains why the working wheel was never invented by indians...

[tango]

QUOTE (M.Dancer @ Aug 19 2009, 05:02 PM) *

That and the reason to do it. I don't argue that there wasn't a native Cabot or Cartier....but their habitations were limited, often contested and well known.

Another factor to consider is the population of North America at the time. The range is 1 million to 18 million. For arguments sake lets say 9 million in all of North America.

North America was virtually uninhabitated.

There is no agreement on Native American population before europeans arrived some estimates go up to 50-100 million.

I think I found an explanation for the discrepancies:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=yFahIv8mXj...sult&resnum

=2#v=onepage&q=North%20America%2C%20pre%20contact%2C%20population&f=false

(Weird link, but it works)

Western Hemisphere (North, Central and South America) 50-100m

North America 4m - ?

(reduced to 1m by 1800)

Soooo ... everybody's right.

Edited August 20, 2009 by tango