First Nations, Stone aged or Leaders in Democracy?

[JLM]

"

Quoting El Barto This is one of the aspects that the Native Americans have my respect.
When they did go to war they didn't wipe out a whole tribe , they took the little ones as their own. I have yet to hear of any culture to do that. Yeah, I've often noticed things about the Native people where the Europeans could take a page (or more likely a whole chapter) out of their book. There's no one any wiser than an old Indian who hasn't been buggered up with alcohol. Children are very precious to Native people.
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[taxslave]

It's been touted as the precursor to the American Constitution, the Oldest Living Democracy and the first form of Government on North American soil.

It the Six Nations or as we prefer, the Haudenosaunee, Constitution.

The Six Nations: Oldest Living Participatory Democracy on Earth

It has been inferred, that the First Nations were just this side of the "Stone age" when the Europeans arrived. Though one could argue that the stone implements of our day to day lives were a far cry from the technology of the European explorers, it could be even easier to say, that many Nations had surpassed the Europeans in forethought, freedom and democracy.

Though technology is a monumental achievement in the forward movement of mans dominion over his environment. It has recently been shown that one can live within the environment and be better off for it. Compounded by the ability to be equals across the board, and you have a society at peace within and outside. Subjectively speaking of course.

The Haudenosaunee Constitution was an achievement in peace that had eluded the Europeans and still does to this day. Though it is true that the Five Nations were in competition with other Nations for food and territory. The ability to bond in such a manner is still without a doubt an monumental accomplishment.

I'm not a subscriber to the romanticized version of the Native people prior to the European conquest of North America. But given the ability of governance, I feel it safe to say, that had the people found here, been given the opportunity to advance on their own, we would have.

I won't be so bold or arrogant as to say we would have done a better job. But at least we had democracy at our forefront. A tool so beloved and admired today.

So I ask, were we really so stone aged?

(There ya go Cannuck, have at'er, lol)

Anyone who thinks there is democracy on the res has never lived on one. There is greed and nepotism in abundance but not democracy. Kind of like almost every country in the world. At one time, prior to the European invasion there was a kind of socialism in that cooperation was required for survival of the tribe.

 

[L Gilbert]

Ethan Lee Vita said it.

Sometime after Acton, many said it. The entire quote is,
"The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections."
-- J E E D Acton

 

[L Gilbert]

Democracy is over-rated.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

Cdnbear, I read the opening post. Not so interesting. Too noble sounding.

In BC, Gordon Campbell's new brainstorm is the Recognition Act. This will finally bring aboriginals into contact will local govts on a large scale. To date, senior govts, feds and provs, and the poltically correct have handled the file. Kind of like computers, we use them but we have no idea at all of the mechanics behind the screen. When there is a problem we call in an expert, then its fixed.

This has kept the issue of aboriginals remote from most Cdns. But at a municipal level, things can be quite detailed and mundane, and we might notice something. Exactly what is hard to say.

 

[barney]

Ah, the mother of all "controversial" topics in Canada/North America. Definitely gonna keep my eye on this thread.

 

[Cliffy]

Cdnbear, I read the opening post. Not so interesting. Too noble sounding.

In BC, Gordon Campbell's new brainstorm is the Recognition Act. This will finally bring aboriginals into contact will local govts on a large scale. To date, senior govts, feds and provs, and the poltically correct have handled the file. Kind of like computers, we use them but we have no idea at all of the mechanics behind the screen. When there is a problem we call in an expert, then its fixed.

This has kept the issue of aboriginals remote from most Cdns. But at a municipal level, things can be quite detailed and mundane, and we might notice something. Exactly what is hard to say.

Gordon Campbell is so out of touch with reality, I would not trust anything he and his gang of thugs come up with. His idea of dealing with anything is make a notice in the paper and then go for drinks with his buddies. it is all eye candy and no substance with that bunch.