“Soon after the arrival of Columbus, detailed descriptions of the inventions of Indigenous Peoples began to make their way back to Europe. Not satisfied that “savages” would be able to generate such innovation, rumors began to spread that the Americas were simply a lost colony of Christians or Israelites. Such rumors still exist today and in fact continue to be discussed by archeologists.” V. Schilling ICTMN
Discussion Questions for this post
Encyclopedia of American Indian Contributions to the World.
Excerpt: 10 Native Inventions and Innovations…By Vincent Schilling ICTMN
“But all of this aside, indigenous cultures have created thousands upon thousands of innovations that are in use today in the most modern of practices, be it a tub of popcorn at the movies, the administering of medicines with surgical precision or the removal of tartar from teeth in modern dentistry…These are but a few examples of indigenous ingenuity, but highlighting them serves to unswathe yet another facet of hidden history.”
Pharmaceuticals
Native Medicine.Credit- Whitewolfpack
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“Take a step back in respect, Rite-Aid enthusiasts. According to Daniel Moerman, the foremost expert on North American Indian ethnobotany in the United States, North American Indians have medicinal uses for 2,564 plant species.”
Syringes, or Hypodermic Needles
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“Though Scotsman Alexander Wood is credited with inventing the syringe in 1853, in pre-Columbian times South American Indians used a type of syringe made from sharpened hollow bird bones attached to small bladders to inject medicine, irrigate wounds or even clean ears.”
Baby Bottles and Formula
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“Using similar technology as the syringe, the Seneca used washed, dried and oiled bear intestines with a bird quill attached as a form of nipple. Mothers filled them with a mixture of pounded nuts, meat and water.”
Bunk Beds
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“In the Northeast of the United States, the Iroquois have long lived in longhouses—long, extended buildings made of branches formed into a large half circle and covered with bark. Inside these longhouses were bunk-beds. A creation of two beds built one on top of the other.”
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“No thanks necessary, Ikea.”
“People today have forgotten they’re really just a part of nature. Yet, they destroy the nature on which our lives depend. They always think they can make something better. Especially scientists. They may be smart, but most don’t understand the heart of nature… They only invent things that, in the end, make people unhappy. Yet they’re so proud of their inventions…They worship them. They don’t know it, but they’re losing nature. They don’t see that they’re going to perish. The most important things for human beings are clean air and clean water.” ~ Akira Kurosawa~
The Autumn Wind By AJ Vargas
Thankful for Family, Friends, and Good Food!
Discussion Questions for this post
- Who was Columbus?
- Who was originally credited with inventing the syringe?
- Explain how the South American Natives made their syringes.
- Where do the majority of Native medicines come from?
- Which tribe was responsible for inventing bunk-beds?
