Amerrikua (original pronounciation ah-mee-lee-kwa) is covered with
1.5-million mounds. Anthros and Archeos have determined largely that
these sites are temples and religious sites where us Injuns gazed
sidereally into the eyes of You Know Who.
Actually these sites, like the model in Masu Pichu (spelling?) were
centres of learning where indigenous arts and sciences were engaged. Our
people were critically engaged in understanding life, hence the term
"sustainable life systems" coined to describe Iroquoia by the Indigenous
Foods of the Americas (IFACS) co-operative in Canada, is not too distant
from our original tradition. In other words our society was a learning
society, and Turtle Island our university.
It re-revises the mythical history taught about Amerrikua. From 1492
onward, Europe basically conquered a University. Much of the "local
knowledge" and "practical wisdom" entailed in indigenous knowledge still
exists and is part of what some of us call "cultural recovery". The
delicate balance between techne and phronesis is implicit to the balance
suggested by indigenous arts and sciences.
Thank you for your words.
Michael Doxtater
American Indian Program
Cornell University
On Wed, 8 Apr 1998, Verne L. Chinampas wrote:
>
> Excellent comments, Akiva!
>
> It's so important that the first cultural offerings brought to this
> continent by Europeans be reexamined. Some of the comments others have
> made on the Sanet listserve endorsing the continued use of the word
> "Farm" certainly are well-meaning. However, an unwillingness to
> recognize the roots of language diminishes it's importance in
> representing our reality.
>
> As an indiginous person, I belive that the English language itself is
> incapable of adequately conveying a balanced and respectful
> relationship with Turtle Island. Thousand of years of human spiritual
> journeying and practical understanding of this place was
> systematically (and through unintentional disease introduction) almost
> completely wiped out by European invaders. Perhaps if you learned some
> Hopi or Chumash language you would gain crucial cultural insights.
>
> Now that we as a human family of peoples can recognize and honor
> diversity, it is time for the indiginous culture which remains to be
> fully valued and unburdened by the conquistador oppression which has
> burdened our lives for so long. Whether you want to acknowledge it or
> not, the word "Farm" is a manifestation of that oppression. It's hard
> to re-examine some of our most cherished cultural concepts, but if we
> don't, ecological apocalypse approaches. Thanks to European science
> and machines, we at least have analytic documentation of the suffering
> of our mother the earth.
>
> I recommend the Native Seed/SEARCH catalog as a good place to start
> cultivating consciousness which existed here more or less in balance
> for thousands of years.
>
> And I'd like to see more comments on this crucial thread from other
> Sanetters if there is such interest, a great way to transform
> awareness perhaps quickly enough to survive.
>
> Aho,
> VLC
>
>
>
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