Great article that neatly summarizes a lot of history to show how we've arrived as a species at where we are today. I particularly appreciated the introduction of the concept and theory, "Shifting Baseline Syndrome." This connection to our collective amnesia and warning that we need to see a more complete picture of history (history of Nature in particular) is a key concept in today's Citizen Science movement, and the importance of "Two-Eyed Seeing."
It is very common these days to accept Chief Paul's version of things. They were every bit as savage as the colonists. The Micmac commonly attacked settlements of either whites or Indigenous, took slaves and raped the captured women. When colonials did this they would have been viewed by colonial citizens as criminal types. raping and pillaging was not part of their normal behaviour.
As far as their respecting the land and environment, probably the biggest reason they didn't wipe out any species was that they did not have the technology, or the population to do so.
Check out their record with the Elver fishing, wanting to fish out of season, and their illegal sales of fish to the Chinese fish buyers., their illegal sales of Salmon and Lobster on the black market.
I agree with a lot of what you have to say about people who are abusing our environment, but if you are taking Chief Paul's book as a book of nonfiction/science, my respect for your "Science" drops considerably.
Great article that neatly summarizes a lot of history to show how we've arrived as a species at where we are today. I particularly appreciated the introduction of the concept and theory, "Shifting Baseline Syndrome." This connection to our collective amnesia and warning that we need to see a more complete picture of history (history of Nature in particular) is a key concept in today's Citizen Science movement, and the importance of "Two-Eyed Seeing."
Thanks for this, Linda!
It is very common these days to accept Chief Paul's version of things. They were every bit as savage as the colonists. The Micmac commonly attacked settlements of either whites or Indigenous, took slaves and raped the captured women. When colonials did this they would have been viewed by colonial citizens as criminal types. raping and pillaging was not part of their normal behaviour.
As far as their respecting the land and environment, probably the biggest reason they didn't wipe out any species was that they did not have the technology, or the population to do so.
Check out their record with the Elver fishing, wanting to fish out of season, and their illegal sales of fish to the Chinese fish buyers., their illegal sales of Salmon and Lobster on the black market.
I agree with a lot of what you have to say about people who are abusing our environment, but if you are taking Chief Paul's book as a book of nonfiction/science, my respect for your "Science" drops considerably.