Crossing the Pacific

[McMillan, Carol]

Fascinating.  Can't believe I haven't heard of this.  Thanks so much.

No mention of Rapa Nui, but it would explain the physical appearance of Easter Islanders.  Their language and culture are definitely of Polynesian, but there are also many South American influences (as in the stonework of their platforms or ahus.) Very interesting.

Carol 

-----Original Message-----
From: Indigenous Languages and Technology [mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Daryn McKenny
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:47 PM
To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Re: [ILAT] Crossing the Pacific

Hi,

I am sure you have all seen this article then, it is an old one:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/430944.stm

I have just attended ILATC and I just felt like I was at home, an amazing place with amazing people on amazing country, just like home. I know we are related, Aboriginal people connect with Aboriginal people.

But,we must have had really big trees to make our bark canoes back then though.


Regards
 
Daryn McKenny
 
Arwarbukarl Cultural Resource Association Inc.

Read our Indigenous Language BLOG at http://www.arwarbukarl.net.au/blog/
 


-----Original Message-----
From: Indigenous Languages and Technology [mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of McMillan, Carol
Sent: Tuesday, 6 May 2008 6:11 AM
To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: [ILAT] Crossing the Pacific

   As a biological anthropologist by training, and being wary of the European penchant for wanting to have "discovered" everything, and having read that even geneticists now say that the aboriginal peoples of Australia had to have had boats at least 40,000 years ago, and having looked at the people of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) vs. other Pacific Islanders, and hearing about the Hawaiian sailing canoes that have recently traveled to Alaska and returned, (and . . . and . . . ) I believe it's time for us all to admit that indigenous people have been traveling by sea for many thousands of years, back and forth between continents.  I'm growing a bit weary of all the who-came-first debates.
Perhaps it's all worth it if European and European-decent scholars in general become less ethnocentric in their world views.  (I'm Scottish, I can say that.)  Maybe the debate shouldn't be about who had the technology and ability to cross large bodies of water, but who was motivated to do it in order to rape/pillage/plunder vs. those who went to trade and/or visit with others.  That focus might put Columbus and others into categories more appropriate to their conduct.

Sorry, I just had to weigh in here.

Carol McMillan