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race and culture not the same
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FROM:
_http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/Quesnel_Joseph/2008/11/28/7573501-sun.html_
(winnipegsun.com - Joseph Quesnel - Race and culture not the same)
Race and culture not the same
By JOSEPH QUESNEL
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Culture is not destiny, especially when that culture is frozen in time.
This is the argument of Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry, a newly-released
book by two academics that is making waves within the academic world. In the
work, Frances Widdowson, a political scientist, and Albert Howard, a former
government and aboriginal group consultant, suggest that indigenous peoples did
not exist at the same level of social and cultural development as Europeans
when they first encountered each other. Even more controversially, they
suggest many pre-modern characteristics of indigenous societies still exist in
First Nation communities today and prevent them from integrating into modern
society and succeeding.
This, they argue, is the problem confronting First Nations today: they need
to catch up culturally.
Before one assumes this is a "racist" argument, one must understand there is
a big difference between race and culture. All societies, including European
ones, passed through periods of cultural evolution, which is determined by
environmental factors, not biology. At one point, European societies were
small, kinship-based societies just like indigenous peoples. Because they lacked
surplus food production, First Nation societies did not enjoy the division of
labour that European civilizations had at the time and did not have the
sophisticated, literate society that grew out of that.
The failure to see obvious differences in civilizations, they argue, is part
of the "post-modern" thinking dominating academia.
The problem as they see it is that well-intentioned academics, seeing the
disadvantages First Nations face, feel guilty and as a result, never criticize
First Nations, no matter how problematic some aspects of their cultures are
for modern life.
I have Mohawk and other indigenous backgrounds. However, I am quite pleased
my ancestors came into contact with Europeans. I do not think I would enjoy a
low-technology, nomadic existence and being confined to subsistence
agriculture. I appreciate the blessings of individual rights and modern women's
freedoms. I take advantage of modern medicine and science. I have French-Canadian
heritage, but I do not regret that my ancestors encountered the British who
held to a more efficient form of land ownership and a market economy, not to
mention democracy.
Does all this make me a "traitor" to my people? I don't think so, as
pre-modern economic and social features are not intrinsic to any people.
Some cultural traditions are not worthy of holding. Years ago, the Canadian
Museum of Civilization held an exhibit on the Bog People of Northern Europe.
One of the exhibits was of a girl with a rope around her neck. According to
the description, she likely was sacrificed because she had an awkward gait and
curved spine. I am glad that tradition was discarded.
One wonders how post-moderns would respond if they were present when Spanish
explorer Hernando Cortes witnessed the Aztecs sacrificing the hearts of
prisoners to prevent the cosmos from collapsing. Would they pass judgment in that
case?
First Nation people better honour their ancestors and their children by
improving their conditions, which often means abandoning ways that do not
subscribe to modernity.
You know the writer of this "enlightening
" article forgets that if he lived in dem "olden times" that none of this european crap or her modern ideals would matter to him. It would be all a normal thing and not something that he despises. And that's exactly how he comes off to me as someone that despises his people's past. I agree with working hard to improve conditions but abandoning what ways is he friggin talking about? Just the comment itself is so vague that it's like saying, the forest floor is filthy. Einsteins like himself need to make their thoughts a bit clearer instead of saying.. well I'm part indian but I don't have these post European hangups like the rest of these indians do. He like many point out what they percieve to be the problem then give a half azzed comment with a simple solution... and it's always, quit living in the past...... l wish for once they would come up with a few ideas instead of how to do this or just tell me which of the traditional ways of life and beliefs and ways we should toss out that would magically make the situations on reservations and native communities better.
This Message is Reprinted Under the Fair Use
Doctrine of International Copyright Law:
_http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html_
(Donate to the Legal Information Institute)
************************************************** ***********
FROM:
_http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/Quesnel_Joseph/2008/11/28/7573501-sun.html_
(winnipegsun.com - Joseph Quesnel - Race and culture not the same)
Race and culture not the same
By JOSEPH QUESNEL
(http://ads5.canoe.ca/event.ng/Type=c...40&Values=20,3
1,43,51,60,72,86,90,101,110,150,152,213,255,256,33 2,334,342,343,344,345,355,37
9,380,393,407,493,860,1281,1445,1467,1544,2292,230 7,2402,2540,2553,2581,2670,2
686,2699,2701,2703,2704,2787,3067,3081,3562,3797,3 993,4752,4805,4856,4889,4994
,5243,5652,5794,5887&RawValues=USERID,c0a8dce0-16276-1227957280-2&Redirect=htt
p://www2.canoe.com)
Culture is not destiny, especially when that culture is frozen in time.
This is the argument of Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry, a newly-released
book by two academics that is making waves within the academic world. In the
work, Frances Widdowson, a political scientist, and Albert Howard, a former
government and aboriginal group consultant, suggest that indigenous peoples did
not exist at the same level of social and cultural development as Europeans
when they first encountered each other. Even more controversially, they
suggest many pre-modern characteristics of indigenous societies still exist in
First Nation communities today and prevent them from integrating into modern
society and succeeding.
This, they argue, is the problem confronting First Nations today: they need
to catch up culturally.
Before one assumes this is a "racist" argument, one must understand there is
a big difference between race and culture. All societies, including European
ones, passed through periods of cultural evolution, which is determined by
environmental factors, not biology. At one point, European societies were
small, kinship-based societies just like indigenous peoples. Because they lacked
surplus food production, First Nation societies did not enjoy the division of
labour that European civilizations had at the time and did not have the
sophisticated, literate society that grew out of that.
The failure to see obvious differences in civilizations, they argue, is part
of the "post-modern" thinking dominating academia.
The problem as they see it is that well-intentioned academics, seeing the
disadvantages First Nations face, feel guilty and as a result, never criticize
First Nations, no matter how problematic some aspects of their cultures are
for modern life.
I have Mohawk and other indigenous backgrounds. However, I am quite pleased
my ancestors came into contact with Europeans. I do not think I would enjoy a
low-technology, nomadic existence and being confined to subsistence
agriculture. I appreciate the blessings of individual rights and modern women's
freedoms. I take advantage of modern medicine and science. I have French-Canadian
heritage, but I do not regret that my ancestors encountered the British who
held to a more efficient form of land ownership and a market economy, not to
mention democracy.
Does all this make me a "traitor" to my people? I don't think so, as
pre-modern economic and social features are not intrinsic to any people.
Some cultural traditions are not worthy of holding. Years ago, the Canadian
Museum of Civilization held an exhibit on the Bog People of Northern Europe.
One of the exhibits was of a girl with a rope around her neck. According to
the description, she likely was sacrificed because she had an awkward gait and
curved spine. I am glad that tradition was discarded.
One wonders how post-moderns would respond if they were present when Spanish
explorer Hernando Cortes witnessed the Aztecs sacrificing the hearts of
prisoners to prevent the cosmos from collapsing. Would they pass judgment in that
case?
First Nation people better honour their ancestors and their children by
improving their conditions, which often means abandoning ways that do not
subscribe to modernity.
You know the writer of this "enlightening
" article forgets that if he lived in dem "olden times" that none of this european crap or her modern ideals would matter to him. It would be all a normal thing and not something that he despises. And that's exactly how he comes off to me as someone that despises his people's past. I agree with working hard to improve conditions but abandoning what ways is he friggin talking about? Just the comment itself is so vague that it's like saying, the forest floor is filthy. Einsteins like himself need to make their thoughts a bit clearer instead of saying.. well I'm part indian but I don't have these post European hangups like the rest of these indians do. He like many point out what they percieve to be the problem then give a half azzed comment with a simple solution... and it's always, quit living in the past...... l wish for once they would come up with a few ideas instead of how to do this or just tell me which of the traditional ways of life and beliefs and ways we should toss out that would magically make the situations on reservations and native communities better.
(we all knew where you'd stand)
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