This week we finished up our First Nations unit. We are going to be creating a test for ourselves. I think some may call that sharpening your own execution axe. After I thought about it some, though, I think it's better because you can make sure you know the answers to the questions.
We learned about the beginnings of agriculture, and some more tribes. This time, we learned of a very warlike tribe, the Iroquois. I thought most First Nations were really peaceful. So why are the Iroquois violent? And what makes us think all First Nations are peaceful? I think it was because of the discovery of Agriculture. It brought them the benefit of not having to be nomads anymore, but it also gave them leisure time, which (I think) may have led to starting to be so bored they get into fights. I don't think it's true, but would it be something like that?
I thought it was difficult to understand why (since the Europeans and the First Nations were the same long ago) they developed different beliefs about Nature and their relationships and religions. That's what I'd like to know.
I thought it was cool that the very same techniques could have passed down generations since the very earliest tribe ancestors, and still be alive today. I mean style of building canoes, huts, shacks, tepees or lodges, or hunting skills, totem poles, beliefs, recreational activities, etc. It blows my mind sometimes.
I admire the First Nations' belief that Nature should be treated with respect, and that everything is equal. Wish the whole world had that belief, then no one would really be living in poverty or hunger or cruelty. I guess the Europeans' belief won out, and the global majority (probably) holds this belief today?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A very un-nomadic class
This week we presented our information on our chosen regions, and also reviewed what questions we had last week. Our group: Jeannie, Clara and I (no surprise there, huh?) chose Pacific West Coast because it was quite familiar to us already. Luckily everything is already on the Wiki, so I don’t have to do so much note taking. We started learning about culture, and the first nations. Oh boy, oh boy.
I think it rather confusing what with all the different tribes and their [different?] practises and religions. I guess this is one of my questions. They all seem so alike, but they do they each have different religious beliefs? Do they all have the same belief of protecting Nature and using every part of things they take, like buffalo, and trees?
I thought the “Plains” was quite interesting in aspects of food and lifestyle. They were really clever- they got the advantage of their environment to their gain. For example, the buffalo jump. The First Nations would dress like wolves and cause a buffalo stampede and eventually herd them towards a cliff where the buffalo just tumble over unknowingly to their deaths. (Well, I guess they’re ignorant, or otherwise why would they go over if they knew it was there? I suppose they think it’s better dying off a cliff than dying caught by the wolves, then.) And the Natives won’t even get hurt trying to hunt buffalo (which are quite dangerous at times), unless you count climbing carefully down the cliff to retrieve their food. This led to another question: A stampede would include a lot of individuals, so how do the Natives eat them all? How would they use it all? I’m assuming that they don’t like to waste anything either. Plus, they’re nomads, so they have to move frequently as long as that’s where their food goes. I guess they carry it all around until it runs out, then they’ll have to just repeat the process.
On the topic of food, I understand how the tribes in other regions would cut things, but how about the Plains tribes? Maybe they’d use the bones of buffalo, but it won’t be any use as a blade unless it’s sharpened. Would they use rocks, then? And to preserve the meat: How do they make fires, if they don’t use wood? Here’s my guess- instead of wood, they use rub rocks together and probably use the grass around them for fuel. I don’t think I’d know if I don’t experience living in the wild.
I think it rather confusing what with all the different tribes and their [different?] practises and religions. I guess this is one of my questions. They all seem so alike, but they do they each have different religious beliefs? Do they all have the same belief of protecting Nature and using every part of things they take, like buffalo, and trees?
I thought the “Plains” was quite interesting in aspects of food and lifestyle. They were really clever- they got the advantage of their environment to their gain. For example, the buffalo jump. The First Nations would dress like wolves and cause a buffalo stampede and eventually herd them towards a cliff where the buffalo just tumble over unknowingly to their deaths. (Well, I guess they’re ignorant, or otherwise why would they go over if they knew it was there? I suppose they think it’s better dying off a cliff than dying caught by the wolves, then.) And the Natives won’t even get hurt trying to hunt buffalo (which are quite dangerous at times), unless you count climbing carefully down the cliff to retrieve their food. This led to another question: A stampede would include a lot of individuals, so how do the Natives eat them all? How would they use it all? I’m assuming that they don’t like to waste anything either. Plus, they’re nomads, so they have to move frequently as long as that’s where their food goes. I guess they carry it all around until it runs out, then they’ll have to just repeat the process.
On the topic of food, I understand how the tribes in other regions would cut things, but how about the Plains tribes? Maybe they’d use the bones of buffalo, but it won’t be any use as a blade unless it’s sharpened. Would they use rocks, then? And to preserve the meat: How do they make fires, if they don’t use wood? Here’s my guess- instead of wood, they use rub rocks together and probably use the grass around them for fuel. I don’t think I’d know if I don’t experience living in the wild.
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