Reclaim Our History - Protect Our Future

So you think you know indigenous history? Answer the following questions: 1. Did indigenous cultures in pre-contact Canada live in large sedentary settlements with the largest having populations numbering in the 10, 000's?  2. Did pre-contact indigenous people practice agriculture?  3. Did pre-contact indigenous people create metal artifacts and tools?  4. Did pre-contact indigenous people have advanced knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, biology and physics?  If you answered "No" to any of those questions you need to read the rest of this blog.

Answer 1. Prior to European contact in the America's, indigenous people lived in sedentary settlements that varied in size from several hundred people to several tens of thousands of people.  Proof of these large settlements are visible today all over the continent but their significance continues to go mostly unnoticed.  In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Western academia gained some interest in indigenous cultures when facinating archaeological discoveries were being made by accident during the agricultural expansion.  What they found was large man made mounds, many of them were burial mounds but there were many that were much too large to be just burial mounds.  When they excavated into the mounds they found that mounds had structure, many had limestone block foundations.

They found areas where there were many mounds in one location - mound cities. The artifacts found at the sites indicated to a society so advanced that the western academics deemed the mounds to be the result  of some ancient lost race they called "the mound builders".  As studies advanced, academics began to realize the undeniable fact that the mounds were the result of an indigenous culture - so they attributed the mounds to the Toltecs - anything to deny that they belonged to the indigenous people of Canada and the US.  There are many mound cities, including many in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The most famous of these pre-contact cities is Cahokia near St. Louis, the city covered an area of 6 square miles, had a population estimated at 15,000 -40,000 (greater than or equal to European cities at the time, such as London) and consisted of over 120 mounds - these mounds are more like pyramids.  Mound cities exist all over the continent.  I've inserted a documentary about Cahokia and the mound builders below....

In 1535, Jacques Cartier arrived in Hochelaga (near present day Montreal) and described a large, permanent town with up to several thousand residents.  Sixty years later, Samuel de Champlain sought out Hochelaga and found nothing, he found no evidence of the large groups of indigenous people described by Cartier.  Why the disappearance?  It had everything to do with the biological apocalypse that resulted from European contact.  The disappearance of all the mound cities at the same time (early 1500's) is indicative of a continent wide epidemic.  

Answer 2. Yes, indigenous people of the americas practiced agriculture.  Here are some examples of cultivated food that indigenous people gave the world: Tomatoes (yes!  Google it!), cucumbers, many varieties of beans, many varieties of peppers, many varieties of potatoes, corn, pumpkins, squash, blueberries, cranberries, pineapple, avocado, papaya, vanilla and chocolate!  In Columbus's journals he writes about their well organized gardens, Cartier also described corn as a staple crop.  The gardens were abandoned when the cities were abandoned.  In the 1800's agriculture started up again among indigenous people at the Red River colony near present day Winnipeg - turns out they were too good at growing crops - they out competed the settlers - so they were shut down and moved into a swampy area.  Check out the link below for the whole story.  

Indigenous Agriculture - Manitoba's First Farmers

A pre-contact indigenous copper knife from Michigan

Answer 3. Yes, pre-contact indigenous people created metal tools and artifacts.  Columbus was the first to describe the metal ornaments used by indigenous people - it was of course gold and copper.  Pure copper artifacts were also found in the Cahokia artifacts and even tools made of ores were found mounds at modern day Winnipeg, MB and Rainy River, Ont.  Copper mines operated by indigenous people were found in the Lake Superior region and near Thunder Bay.  The mines are open pits, excavated through solid rock, some reaching depths of 9 feet.  Below are some links showing the sources of this information.  

The Mound Builders by George Bryce (racist arse but still has some relevant information)

Mound Builders in Manitoba

Copper ornaments from Cahokia

Answer 4. Yes, pre-contact indigenous people had extensive knowledge of mathematics and science.  Studies describing the construction and orientation of the mounds suggest that indigenous cultures not only had a great understanding of math including algebra, trigonometry, calculus and geometry but also used that knowledge in the construction of structures including, mounds, buildings, medicine wheels etc.  The placement of structures was usually done relative to other structures - and together these structure would mimic or represent astronomical features such as constellations, planetary movement and solar, stellar and lunar movements.  Also check out an earlier post where I elaborate more on indigenous knowledge of the universe - the Quantum Physics post.  

People must understand that during the late 1400's and early 1500's Europeans were not exactly hygienic - they dumped their shit into the streets and into the water, the powdered wigs were used to hide the lice infestations, they refused to bathe naked.  Put these people on a ship for weeks on end - many of them died on the voyage due to disease - and you seriously think they wouldn't infect the indigenous populations???  As disease spread across the continent - Europeans began to arrive in mass amounts in the 1600's - by this point, disease had ravaged the culture and most of the knowledge died with those that held it.  The diseases spread faster than the european invasions.  Settlers encountered bands of survivors and wrongly assumed that it was how they had always lived.  

Indigenous people have to start to educate each other about our history!  We need to discover our past and protect our future.  Currently, many of our history is being speculated about - people refuse to believe that our ancestors were capable of creating societies that would produce metal artifacts or live in cities or priduce fields of crops.  Some people are even going as far to state that these remains are the result of aliens living in the americas prior to european settlement - see Ancient Aliens.  Proof of our history is hidden in plain sight - in my own area (Winnipeg, MB), we have many mounds that go unnoticed.

These sites need to be discovered and protected and the artifacts need to be recovered.  Please help by sharing this post, learning more about our past and sharing what you learn!

***Most of my sources are in pdf format - I will need to figure out a way to post these.  In the meantime, if you wish to see any of my sources, just let me know in the comment box***

Idle No More: History of Idle No More

Idle No More: History of Idle No More

Idle No More - Flash Mob Round Dance - Polo Park #IdleNoMore

On Saturday, December 22, 2012 indigenous people gathered at Portage Place Mall in Winnipeg,  MB at 3PM and at Polo Park Mall at 7PM to take part in a flash mob Round Dance in protest to Bill C-45.  

I'm sure many of you have heard of the Idle No More movement... this is it people... this is what we've been waiting for...

 For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about please Google "Idle No More" to research more behind the movement.  In summary, Idle No More started as a grassroots education forum designed to educate indigenous people about the new legislative changes in Canada by the Conservation government, known notoriously as the Omnibus Bill or Bill C-45 and how it would impact indigenous treaty rights in Canada.  The knowledge spread across the country - as the awareness grew, so awakened something thought to be dead in the hearts of indigenous people - our connection to this land.  We educated ourselves and then each other regarding the new legislative changes that would decrease the environmental protection laws and impact indigenous treaty rights - and it sparked something that many of us can't quite explain - we are fiercely protective of our land - our right to live on it - and our right to decide what happens to it.

As soon as I walked through the doors of the mall, I noticed several other indigenous people making their way towards centre court... okay not just several but A LOT!!  An excitement grew as I walked down the hall and I heard the drums start... unsteady at first but they quickly found the steady rhythm - loud and powerful.  I barely got there before a familiar face grabbed pulled me into the growing Round dance...before long, we filled the mall.  Amazing to see so many beautiful, proud indigenous people!

I had the opportunity to play my small role in the Idle No More Flash Mob at Polo Park and Portage Place in Winnipeg, MB on December 22, 2012.  It was truly an amazing experience to share with all that were in attendance - for both indigenous and non-indigenous.  If you have the opportunity to attend such events in the future - I strongly urge you to do so!!

Indigenous people from across Canada have been gathering at various locations to hold flash mob style Round Dances in protest of Bill C-45 and also to just remind ourselves and others that we are here and our land needs us to wake up - work together and defend it.

For many, this experience was life changing - it was for me!!  I saw it on the faces of the people we passed as we danced - they were surprised to feel connection with us - something they could not explain.  I saw them in their panicked, last-minute-Xmas-shopping frenzy - slow down and for at least a moment they felt their heart sync up with the drums - they felt their feet wanting to dance - they felt their soul wanting to sing.

It was amazing to see the young people - I was so proud of all of us (am I still young at 29???).

Rumor has it, that the next flash mob Round Dance could be on Monday, December 31st at Portage and Main in Winnipeg - Hope to see you all there!

Time to Wake Up PART ONE: Quantum Physics and Indigenous knowledge

For as long as I could remember, I wondered what created our reality.  I wondered why things were solid, why I was stuck in this body.  I held my hand in front of my face and wondered "how is this me?".  I looked around the room at the TV, the stereo, the shag carpet, the coffee table and wondered how all these things existed in the space in front of me.  Strange thoughts for a young girl.  Well... I believe I've finally found those answers.  Two science degrees and many years of indigenous education... I feel like I can finally share what I have learned!  Essentially what I found is - We create our collective reality!  This is a very exciting time for me, I hope I execute this correctly.  I suspect that this post will evolve over time - so if you're reading this... check back later... it may be updated.

I guess I should state my intent behind this series of posts...  I intend to inspire the hearts of the indigenous people and play my part in fueling the spiritual awakening.  I hope to educate all people on the truths of our existence and how indigenous knowledge had a lot to offer to the fields of physics, medicine and biology - contemporary science is finally catching up to our indigenous teachings.  

Indigenous people used to understand that we all created our collective reality - we must rediscover this knowledge 

All matter is made up of mostly empty space and it is impossible to actually touch anything

I will start with a very brief overview of the current scientific understanding of our universe.  Our physical world is made up of atoms, which are in turn made of subatomic particles held together by very strong forces.  Some subatomic particles are made up of smaller particles called quarks, however electrons are not made up of small particles, they are one of the smallest forms of matter.  Electrons orbit around a nucleus made up of protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons account for most of the weight of the atom, the weight of the electrons are negligible.  Atoms are made mostly of space and because matter is made of atoms - all matter is mostly space!  Atoms are also the smallest magnets, they have a north and south pole.  As a result, the electromagnetic field of the earth looks identical to the electromagnetic field of an atom.

The Law of Gravitation is used to determine the magnitude of the gravitational force between two objects.

Coulomb's Law is used to determine the magnitude of the electric force between two elementary particles.

Notice how the two equations are quite similar?  It probably has something to do with the shape of the field - a torus - or donut shaped.

When atoms are bonded with one another they make molecules and compounds which give rise to the 3 (or 4 if you include plasma) states of matter - solids, liquids and gases.  Electrons are negative and found on the out side of the atom.  Each atom has a negative cloud of electrons flying around the nucleus - therefore atoms that are not chemically reacting - never actually touch each other.  The computer you think you are touching - well you aren't, because the atoms of the computer are repulsed by the atoms of your fingers.  

The electromagnetic spectrum is a form of energy that is in the shape of a wave, with very long wavelengths at one extreme and very short waves at the other extreme.  Radio waves are can be several kilometers long while gamma rays at the other end of the spectrum are shorter than the diameter of a single atom.  Light is a very small section of the electromagnetic spectrum... meaning we can only see a very tiny part of the energy that actually exists in our universe.

Light, alone is very intriguing.  It behaves as both a wave and a particle.  In contemporary science, they do not understand how light can be both particle and wave.  

This bit of background will bring us to Quantum Physics - concepts that indigenous people understood quite well.

The very act of observing, creates our physical reality as we experience it!

Contemporary scientists have found out that electrons, one of the smallest forms of matter - acts like a particle when observed but acts like a wave when not observed!  The electron behaved with endless possibilities as a wave function when not observed but as soon as the electron was observed, it acted like a particle.  The very act of observing creates our physical reality as we experience it.  The video below is an excellent re-animation of the experiment that made this amazing discovery.

So what does this mean?  Electrons and light behaving as both wave and particle?  It means that wave functions (energy) have the ability to physically manifest in infinite forms but as soon as someone is watching, one possibility is chosen as reality.  Likewise, it also means that all matter in it's smallest, most basic form is a wave function (energy).  What is a wave function?  It's a disturbance created in a medium (think sonic booms and dropping pebbles in water).  We all know about the energy held in waves - think of tsunamis, gamma rays etc.  Tsunamis are disturbances using water as a medium, sound travels through through air and use the gaseous molecules that make up air as a medium.  Electromagnetic waves (light, x-rays, gamma rays, radio, micro and infrared waves) are thought to have no medium.

Quantum physics also found that elementary particles can exist at more that one location at one time - Superposition.

Scientists call it Entanglement - Indigenous people call it Creator

Quantum Mechanics made another mind blowing discovery - that all things are connected - we are all connected to one another, to everything - they call it Entanglement - indigenous people called it Creator.
Wow - sounding almost New Age.  Well this is where science meets spirituality.  If you made it this far... congrats and thank you!

In summary - our physical reality is created from waves of energy - our physical reality is made up of mostly space - we create our physical world by observing it - when we aren't looking, the physical world truly exists as an infinite number of possibilities all existing at once  - all physical matter in our reality is connected to each other at the very basic level..

  

The videos at the bottom of the page are an excellent overview of quantum physics, it is portion of the movie What The Bleep Do We Know? Down the Rabbit Hole.  You need to watch these videos (or already have an understanding of quantum physics) to begin to understand how science and math are describing our reality and how our reality is dependent on our thoughts, feelings and beliefs.

The Fractal star pattern used for Star Blankets symbolizes the true nature of our reality - it's fractal, all connected and composed of energy (wave functions) 

At this point, I would like to stop talking about contemporary science for a little while and discuss the indigenous understanding of the universe - more specifically, an Anishinabe  (Ojibwe) understanding.  Ojibwe people understood the power behind positive and negative thoughts and intentions.  This understanding is reflected in the traditional belief system, the music, the dancing, the arts and the culture in general. It is well known that many indigenous people didn't use a written language however they did keep written records on birch bark scrolls.  Many of these scrolls are locked away in museums, the Smithsonian and private collections.  These scrolls used symbols to help aid in the interpretation of knowledge.  Indigenous people knew that true understanding of concepts comes from deep introspection - a good way to do this is to allow for interpretation.

Ojibwe people hold the star blanket as a symbol of honour and respect but what most people (including most indigenous people) don't understand is why that type of star is held in high regard.  Look at the shape of the star, how it is made up of 8 large diamonds that are in turn made up of smaller diamonds.  Also, the smallest star in the very middle is the exact same pattern as the largest star.  This pattern type is called a Fractal pattern and I believe that the star symbolized to indigenous people that the Creator is fractal in nature.  Fractal means that larger objects are made up of smaller, yet identical objects.  Our universe, in my opinion is fractal.  Elementary particles make up subatomic particles, that make up atoms, which in turn take the form of an infinite number of possible pieces of matter (books, insects, humans, clouds, grass etc etc) - remember that the earth and an electron have the exact same shaped electromagnetic field.

Indigenous people also understood that everyone and everything in our existence originates from the same source energy - the Creator energy.  They also understood that the Creator energy was neither benevolent nor malevolent, there is no heaven, no hell.... however there are beings that can influence our reality in both negative and positive ways.  Indigenous people knew that actions and thoughts had a direct influence on reality - non-indigenous people incorrectly called this belief system Paganism or witchcraft.  Most importantly, the Ojibwe had an understanding of the universe that literally set them free and allowed them to create their own reality.

Indigenous people used to believe that thoughts were tangible and capable of affecting reality.  Thinking a negative thought about someone was known as "putting bad medicine on someone".  "Medicine" how it is used today by indigenous peoples, is referring to the belief that thoughts, good or bad influence reality.  Today, contemporary science recognizes that thoughts exist physically as electric impulses in the brain - a wave function.  When more than one wave exists in a space, interference is possible.  So, if all matter is made of wave functions, a thought - also a wave  - could interfere with reality - IF both waves are resonating at the same frequency.   I know through personal experience, that indigenous ceremonies are designed to create wave functions in the physical form of thoughts, music and movement at frequencies capable of influencing reality.

Indigenous people had a deep understanding of our true power as creators of our reality - they had the ability to alter reality through wave interference.  There are two types of wave interference, Constructive and Destructive.  Constructive wave interference results when two waves interact and result in a new wave that that has a larger amplitude.  Destructive wave interference results when two waves interact and cancel each other out - there is no resultant wave.  Wave interference is done through the use of the circle, the four directions, musical vibrations and physical movement of energy - I will explain all of this in a later post - I promise!  

Colonization and Depopulation of the Americas

"It happened a long time ago..." they would say, "you should just get over it already".  I should just get over it already.  And I am.  In my own way.

Colonization exists to only 2% of the Canadian population, the remaining 98% believe that what has happened in North America was development, progress...improvement.  An improvement for whom?  

Colonization of the Americas began in 1492 - the video below uses historical first-hand accounts describing European encounters with indigenous peoples

When Columbus landed on the our continent, he brought a small sample of the New World's wealth back to Spain to ignite the greedy fires driving this so called progress.  Columbus' letters and journal entries offer a virgin view of a land we currently take for granted.  A sight that very few would have the pleasure to see, cultures never to be experienced by others.  

"...the air sweet with vanilla and ripe plantains..."

Columbus described quaint, little houses with covered porches scattered about on lush, green islands ringed with white, sandy beaches.  Hammocks hung from the covered porches, small fires glowed in the well-built fireplaces, fine net-like cotton fabrics were used as bedding and insect nets, wind chimes made of shells and bits of wood and the air sweet with vanilla and ripe plantains.  Small dogs that do not bark and tame parrots are found throughout the islands.  Columbus spoke of the food grown in their gardens, corn, potatoes, yams, beans, plantains, strawberries, peanuts, cucumbers, squash, melons and vanilla.  In addition, he found jewelry and trinkets made of pearls, copper, silver and of course gold.  

I can't help but think about how much I would have loved to visit such a place, to trade with the owners of those houses, to sit and feast with them and enjoy all that the Creator had given to us.  To sing, dance and tell stories of snow and ice and to hear their stories of ocean mysteries and other tribes.  

"...the fall of the mighty Incas, the crown jewel of our continent..."

In less than 50 years, the Mayans fell, the Aztecs fell, followed by the fall of all the remaining great Mexican cultures, the Mississippi was "discovered", Cartier explored the St. Lawrence and the mighty Incas, the crown jewel of our continent, were defeated.  How did we lose hold of our land, was it superior technology or was it biological warfare?

This video looks into the architectural genius of the Incas and their stone masonry that has yet to be rivaled.

I propose it was biological warfare - and of course I wouldn't make such subjective statements if I couldn't argue my points with facts and historical documentation.  It is common knowledge that the first Europeans brought a variety of diseases to the New World that would result in the decimation of indigenous populations.  What is not common knowledge is the large population of indigenous people that lived on our precolumbian continent.

Fact #1 - Europeans during the 16th Century practiced poor hygiene

Especially sailors that had been confined to a ship for several weeks if not months would not be all that clean.  However, Europe during the 16th century was the time in which it was still socially acceptable to empty your chamber pot into the street. People cannot expect that this practice would result in a clean, healthy society.  As expected, 16th century Europe was also a breeding ground for disease and had it's fair share of widespread pandemics.  In a society that had very little knowledge of the obvious dangers of shitting where you eat, can we really expect the first European diplomats to be any different?  A quick Google search of 'sanitation in Europe during the 16th century' and 'epidemics in Europe during the 16th century' will confirm my statements if you require it.  

Fact #2 - Indigenous populations were actually much larger than commonly believed

It is commonly believed by the general population that indigenous populations were small, barely reaching beyond 10 million individuals with 200,000 of these individuals in present day Canada.  Bartolome De Casas was a friar that accompanied Columbus on his voyages and he estimated in his writings that the population of Hispaniola (present day Haiti and Dominican Republic) were in the hundred thousands up even up to 2 million alone.  The cities of the Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecs, Olmecs, Totonac and Inca had populations ranging from 20,000 to 1 million each.  To the north, there were several mound cities in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, the Dakotas up into Manitoba and Ontario... the most well-known of these cities is Cahokia.  Cahokia is estimated to have had up to 40,000 people - larger than most European cities at that time.  

Cahokia America's Lost City

Fact #3 - 90 to 95% of the indigenous population died by the 1650's

Contemporary scholars now believe that diseases such as smallpox, measles, typhus, influenza, bubonic plague and the mumps decreased indigenous populations in combination with the widespread slaughter by as much as 95%.  In 1535, Jacques Cartier arrived in Hochelaga (near present day Montreal) and described a large, permanent town with up to several thousand residents.  Sixty years later, Samuel de Champlain sought out Hochelaga and found nothing, he found no evidence of the large groups of indigenous people described by Cartier.  The fact is, a disease epidemic would travel quickly throughout the continent and 60 years would definitely be enough time for the 16th Century American Apocalypse to run its course.  In his journal entries, Cartier described hearing of a large river beyond the large lakes that runs south to tribes that are constantly at war.  It would be reasonable to believe that this river was the Mississippi River, especially considering that Algonquin people used the shells of sea creatures native to the Gulf of Mexico as currency.  The expansive trade routes acted as vector for infectious disease.  

All of these statements can be confirmed in the writings of Cartier, De Casas and Champlain.

The indigenous populations of the Americas lost so much after 1492 and the European populations gained so much.  Yet, this sacrifice has been largely ignored and suppressed to the point of complete disrespect.  If we are all to move forward from this dark past, the first step is always acceptance.  Settler Americans must begin to recognize the true place that Indigenous Americans have in our collective history.  Perhaps the reason behind why indigenous history is suppressed by contemporary scholars should be explored.  What is it about the European nature that makes them want to believe they are intrinsically superior to indigenous cultures?