L'histoire des Premières Nations : ce n'était pas nous les sauvages : le choc entre les civilisations européennes et autochtones

We Were Not the Savages is a history of the near demise, from a Mi'kmaq perspective, of ancient democratic North American First Nations, caused by the European invasion of the Americas, with special focus on the Mi'kmaq. Although other European Nations, Spain for instance, were in on the slaughter this history relates in detail the actions of only one, Great Britain. In Great Britain's case it isn't hard to prove culpability because British colonial officials, while representing the Crown, recorded in minute detail the horrors they committed. When reading the records left behind by these individuals one gets the impression that they were proud of the barbarous crimes against humanity that they were committing while they were, using brute force, appropriating the properties of sovereign First Nations Peoples. From my knowledge of what they did I can, without fear of contradiction from men and women of good conscience, use uncivilized savagery to describe it. The following are some of the methods they used to cleanse the land of its rightful owners: Bounties for human scalps, including women and children, out and out massacres, starvation and germ warfare. These cruel British methods of destruction were so effective that the British came close to realizing their cleansing goal. All North American civilizations under their occupation were badly damaged, many eliminated, and close to 95% of the people exterminated. In fact, after reviewing the horrific barbarities that the European invaders subjected First Nations citizens too, one finds it almost impossible to comprehend how any managed to survive. That some North American First Nations Peoples did survive the best efforts of their tormentors to exterminate them - from 1497 to 1850s out and out genocide and starvation, and from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s a malnutrition existence under the rule of Canada and the United States, is a testament to the tenacious courage and faith in the Great Spirit of our ancestors. Today, although starvation and malnutrition have been mostly eliminated, the systemic racism instilled in the majority of Caucasians by colonial demonizing propaganda, which depicts our ancestors as the ultimate sub-human savages, is still widespread. This is witnessed by the level of discrimination still suffered, which is a very heavy burden for our Peoples to try to overcome. Interestingly, although both claim to be compassionate countries with justice for all as a core value, Canada and the United States are not making any viable effort to substitute demonizing colonial propaganda with the truth. This is why I wrote We Were Not the Savages, my small effort to air as much of the truth as possible. None None None None Civilization, Democracy and Governments The Need for a Native American Historical Perspective National Identity The Horrors to Come Mi'kmaq and European Civilizations Mi'kmaq Government Religion Morality and Customs Mi'kmaq Social Values and Economy Early European Descriptions of Mi'kmaq Character Trade and Commerce European Greed and the Mi'kmaq Resolve to Fight Invasion Mi'kmaq Decline European Greed European Settlement European Disrespect for Mother Earth The Mi'kmaq Resolve to Right Persecution, War, Alliance and Terrorism Persecution War: American versus Amerindian War: England versus the Mi'kmaq Terrorism The Treaty of 1725 and Proclamations Treaties The Treaty of 1725 Proclamations Flawed Peace and the Treaty of 1749 More Bounties for Human Scalps and the Treaty of 1752 Scalping Proclamation of 1749 The Treaty of 1752 The Futile Search for a Just Peace. 1752 - 1761 Lawrence's Scalping Proclamation The 1760s Treaties Burying of the Hatchet Ceremony of 1761, and the Royal Proclamation of 1763 Burying of the Hatchet Ceremony of 1763 The Royal Proclamation of 1763 Dispossession of the Imposition of Poverty The Impositon of Degrading Poverty Dispossessed and Landless The Edge of Extinction Confederation and the Indian Act Confederation The Indian Act The Guerin Decision Twentieth-Century Racism and Centralization Twentieth-Century Racism Education The Shubenacadie Indian Residential School Indian Day Schools The One Band Theory Centralization The Struggle for Freedom None None None None None None As A Person Of First Nation Ancestry I Cannot Help But Wonder If The Failure Of Caucasian Americans And Canadians To Reveal And Teach About The Horrors Their Ancestors Carried Out Against North American First Nation Peoples Is A Deliberate Cover-up, Or An Indication They Hold Within Their Minds A Notion The Life Of A First Nation Person Is Valueless--not Worthy Of Human Considerations. The Latter Is Probably The More Plausible, Because It Is An Unchallengeable Fact That The Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Our Peoples Over The Centuries By People Of European Descent Are Not Viewed With The Same Abhorrence By Caucasians That Such Crimes Against Other Races Of People Are Viewed. If Such Were The Case There Would Be Unconditional Condemnation Of It, And The Knowledge Would Be Readily Available And Taught In Schools. -from The Introduction This Updated Edition Incorporates Daniel Paul's Ongoing Research. It Clearly And Profoundly Shows That The Horrors Of History Still Rain Upon The First Nations People Of The Present. We Were Not The Savages Is Unique, In Chronological Scope And In The Story It Tells, Covering The Last Three Centuries Of Mi'kmaq History In Detail. 1. Civilization, Democracy And Government -- 2. Mi'kmaq Social Values And Economy -- 3. European Greed And The Mi'kmaq Resolve To Fight -- 4. Persecution, War, Alliance And Terrorism -- 5. The Treaty Of 1725 And Proclamations -- 6. Flawed Peace And The Treaty Of 1749 -- 7. More Bounties For Human Scalps And The Treaty Of 1752 -- 8. The Futile Search For A Just Peace, 1752-1761 -- 9. Burying Of The Hatchet Ceremony Of 1761, And The Royal Proclamation Of 1763 -- 10. Dispossession And The Imposition Of Poverty -- 11. The Edge Of Extinction -- 12. Confederation And The Indian Act -- 13. Twentieth-century Racism And Centralization -- 14. The Struggle For Freedom Daniel N. Paul. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 388-395) And Index. « [...] je ne peux m'empêcher de me demander si l'omission de révéler et d'enseigner les horreurs commises par les ancêtres des Américains et des Canadiens caucasiens contre les peuples des Premières Nations d'Amérique du Nord [...] est une dissimulation intentionnelle ou une indication que ces personnes gardent toujours à l'esprit la notion que la vie d'une personne des Premières Nations n'a aucune valeur. » - Extrait de l'épilogue, Daniel Paul Première traduction en français du célèbre livre de Daniel Paul, We were not the savages (Fernwood Publishing). Paru pour la première fois en 1993, ce premier livre d'historiographie autochtone en est à sa 3e édition, et incorpore les recherches continues de l'auteur. Il montre clairement que les horreurs de l'histoire continuent de hanter les Premières Nations aujourd'hui... mais aussi tous.tes les Canadien.nes This fully updated third edition of a vital text on the history of indigenous peoples comes from the thorough research of a First Nations descendent. By turns revealing and deeply unsettling, the book details the brutal treatment and complete displacement of the Mikmaq civilization at the hands of European settlers. The authors ongoing research casts doubt on the recorded tales of Canadian colonization and reveals that the mistreatment of First Nations peoples is not confined to the past. The reason for the urgent need for First Nations histories penned by First Nations authors was articulated to me by Chuck LeCain, a retired high-school history teacher of thirty-one years: "'Until the lion has his historian, the hunter will always be the hero' (unknown author). For more than a decade you have been the lion's historian. Take pride in knowing that you have assisted countless others, not only to review, but to re-think history. I gained greatly from your writings. Wela'lin!"