The Beothuk

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The Beothuk

Canada is an emancipated country in the relative scheme of things. But it has a dark history that some people aren't aware of, and others would like to keep it that way. In the early 20th century the last Beothuk Indian met her death after various parties encouraged other Indians (Micmac) to hunt people to their extinction. It is true that the Beothuk stole merchandise but it is also true that their culture assumed that what wasn't being used was for the common people to use and that those who weren't using the canoe or boat wouldn't mind if it was borrowed. In time they returned the goods if they were given a chance.

The debate in scholarly journals would suggest this was part of the difficulty and that there is little proof there was a concerted effort to eradicate the Beothuk. What truth in that suspicion of mine actually exists is up to you to decide. Clearly there will be no conclusive documentation I can provide; but there might be a reason to eliminate these people who are probably the cause of the moniker 'red-men'. They would smear their body with the spiritual red ochre that had been part of their cosmogony since the time of the ancient copper trade to Isle Royale. This was a protection from evil spirits. Obviously it didn't work in this world when the European heathen arrived to dispossess all natives and their quaint attitudes that had built up over thousands of years. The 'protection' was inadequate to protect what may have been the remnants of the Keltic 'Brotherhood' that first inter-mingled in North America. Their canoe or boat construction is unlike any other and Farley Mowat certainly thinks they were in touch with the Scots and Celts since the 8th century AD. There is a burial that archaeologists have found that interests me and I hope some day they do genetic testing on the body to see if they can track or trace the genetic material to Ireland or Norway. This body had been disinterred or taken out of its grave and then the bones were covered with red ochre. I believe this was a high priest or shaman who had the knowledge of his ancestors from Druidic Europe. The crouched position of the skeleton is reminiscent of some Scythian and Keltic burials as well as those near Mt. Carmel Neanderthal back to 150,000 years ago.

The fact is, no real attempt was made to deal with their culture and keep these people alive. Their lands covered the territory from Ungava Bay to Newfoundland at one time and there are lots of Norse settlements in this area so academics no doubt would say 'So What' if there is genetic material in these or other bones that ties in to Europe. They might even re-iterate their claim that there is no proof of cultural impact and the integration of the few Europeans who settled here is proof of their contention. My attitude is that the Algonkian and other Indians who encouraged sex before marriage and enjoyed the intermingling of species, races and culture were heavily and spiritually impacted by 'messengers' who were white and often Druidic. There is far more proof than just the Scandinavian sweat house design or pottery. The most important proof is the very attitudes of brotherhood and community that allow people to use and share the wealth of the land and aren't so much into being rich. There are still 'primitive' savages (?) in Brazil like the Yanomami who are being dispossessed and eliminated in the name of 'progress'; which is an extension of the concept of 'Manifest Destiny', and an ethic that is more of a real theft of property than any Beothuk ever did to his fellow man.

Pierre Berton is a highly respected Canadian author and historian who tells the story with appropriate documentation of the extinction of these once fun-loving and free people. It is a black mark on our collective consciousness and heritage made all the worse by a lack of awareness and transparency about what really happened. The effort to keep the knowledge of the 'travelers' and messengers or other agents of worldwide ecumenicism continues unabated and with something close to evil intent. It is entirely possible that courts would decide the white men were invaders and destroyers of a culture and people who had every legal and moral right to expect the newcomers to act like the white men that had come to live with them and trade the previous ten thousand or more years. It is possible that we all might agree the Paradise that was North America had a better form of land use and education or health or extended family management akin to the Kelts; and in line with the purpose God wants us to fulfill.

Author of Diverse Druids
Columnist for The ES Press Magzine
World-Mysteries.com guest 'expert'

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The Beothuk

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