Sadness...

I was sad to read the story of Ishi (discovered in 1911, died of tuberculosis in 1916), the Last of His People (small group of 300-400 in the mid-nineteenth century) is so very sad and upsetting with how his people were being extinct because of massacres of local militias and vigilantes who were at the time only looking to “clean up the Indians” (1965), when we know through history of how power and wealth takes over more than just lands, but pushing people out of them too (1849 CA Gold Rush).  By 1908 he saw his family die in front of him or start to disappear… it must have been a total shock to be received by people that took him in to want to know more about him and his stories.  Alfred Kroeber, the primary anthropologist involved with Ishi, observed, “He was the most patient man I ever knew . . . without trace of self-pity or of bitterness to dull the purity of his cheerful enduringness.” (pg. 38-39)  Through it all, he was a human being just trying to survive and his gift was able to demonstrate his skills and gentle kindness to willingly give.


Comments

  1. CARIOCA BRAZILMay 20, 2020 at 8:53 PM

    This story is sad. And indigenous people continue to face difficulties in mantaining their traditional lifestyles. Even if they are not being killed, there is constant pressure to open up their lands for agriculture, mining, oil, and other commodities. This is going on in my country in Brazil right now.
    Well said Oliver, thanks!

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  2. almaruelasworldhistoryblogMay 24, 2020 at 5:49 PM

    I was very sad as well to read this story. It seems to me that Western civilization has had great disregard for ¨the olden days¨. They seem to think that in the name of progress they can destroy what hinders their ¨progress¨.

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  3. Sarita Mazer LopezMay 24, 2020 at 11:55 PM

    Hi Oliver,

    I chose the story of Ishi as the sad story I read. I can only imagine being the last person of my people and still have to tell my story to the anthropologists so they can have a record of my people's story. He must have lived his last days in pure sadness but still accepted to share his story.

    -Sarita

    ReplyDelete

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