In school many of us learned the Americas were populated by a migration on an ice bridge across the Bering Strait from Russia. But Indigenous scholars haven’t always been on board with that theory. Now, a recent study finds the timeline for the ice bridge theory doesn’t hold water. On this show, we’ll discuss the controversy over migration theories. Is the Native perspective included?
Guests:
Dr. Kristin Barnett (Unangan) – lecturer in archeology at Bates College
Dr. Jason Younker (Coquille Indian Tribe) – assistant vice president and advisor to the president on sovereignty and government to government relations at the University of Oregon
Archeology is theories proven by what has been found. Believing only what you can touch and hold. To find the origins of native people, you have to take into account that which cannot be held. You must also consider the culture. I’m enrolled Nez Perce and in 2007 traveled to Tuva in south centeral Siberia. While there I observed culture and customs so similar to ours, that they couldn’t be left to chance. Customs die hard. DNA and language may change over time when a people settle into an area. But customs take much longer to change.
Also you have to remember that our native people are masters of the medephor. This is proven by listening to the stories and all the saying being quoted.
I find it difficult to believe that the section that would become north and South America was not inhabited before the great split. If animals inhabited the area, then surely humans could have as well.
I believe that there were people already here. But, there were many migrations that took place over time to contribute to the mixing of cultures and languages.