Similarities between Native American Pow-Wows and Highland Games

[Riverkilt]

Well....feel like one of those balloons at the dart toss at the county fair. WHATEVER the "truth of history" (if there is such a thing) I still contend that Native Americans and Scots have had similar experiences in their cultural heritage - and they haven't all been good...and those are hard to overlook or minimize....

Ron

[macwilkin]

Well....feel like one of those balloons at the dart toss at the county fair. WHATEVER the "truth of history" (if there is such a thing) I still contend that Native Americans and Scots have had similar experiences in their cultural heritage - and they haven't all been good...and those are hard to overlook or minimize....

Ron

Ron,

I think scholars like Calloway and Fernec Szasz will back you up on this one; if you haven't read Calloway's book, you really need to. Calloway is a noted Native American history (speciality, not ancestry) and is respected in the field.

Regards,

Todd

[KFCarter]

Ron,

I think scholars like Calloway and Fernec Szasz will back you up on this one; if you haven't read Calloway's book, you really need to. Calloway is a noted Native American history (speciality, not ancestry) and is respected in the field.

Regards,

Todd

Just finished the book today and recommend it more than ever. It's left me with a lot to chew on. I'm going to circulate it to those who are interested so I'm thinking about posting a thread for folks to put their name on a list. Each person could just take responsibility for posting it on to the next in line when they're done. You might want your own copy, Ron, but if you'd like to get on the list, just let me know.

best

Ken

[PGH]

Well....feel like one of those balloons at the dart toss at the county fair. WHATEVER the "truth of history" (if there is such a thing) I still contend that Native Americans and Scots have had similar experiences in their cultural heritage - and they haven't all been good...and those are hard to overlook or minimize....

Ron

The only things I take issue with are the notions that the Scots are a conquered people and that their single most recognized form of music was banned. They're not and it wasn't. The "truth of history" in these two cases isn't disputed by any reputable modern scholars.

As far as other similarities I can see the Trail of Tears and the Clearances resonating in both cultures (but don't blame the latter on the English, it was the clan chiefs that forced their clansmen out of their homes.)

[Riverkilt]

Well, PGH....I'm just gonna stay stupid then...'cause I have the opposite opinion on both.

Have read a number of books on Scots and Native Americans including one about my clan and Native Americans in Canada and Montana.

Will for sure add Calloway to the list and order it up soon. Thanks for the offer of a share, but I'm a book junkie too.

Ron

[PGH]

Well, PGH....I'm just gonna stay stupid then...'cause I have the opposite opinion on both.

It's a free world. Knock yourself out.

[David Dubh]

The Scots and the Native Americans have lots in common. They both are very hospitable and welcome new members to their clan/tribe. Their chiefs also wear feathers in their hats/headress.
By the way the reason that so many scots fought for the crown in the revolutionary war was they were men of honour and their word was their bond. They had to swear allegience to the crown and they were not going to break it.

[BEEDEE]

I especially can't explain why so many Scots who came to this country after Culloden fought for the crown during the Revolution. The fact is, the more I read about the whole story the more complex it all becomes. The book Todd recommended earlier in the thread (3rd post) is an excellent book and if you're pondering these questions, it's a highly recommended read.

Most of the Scots who emigrated after the '45 had to swear allegiance to the English Crown in order to leave. They felt their sworn word was more important to them than to side with the Patriots. Flora Macdonald's husband was one caught in this situation, and after the Loyalists lost, they went back to Scotland.

Brian

[macwilkin]

Most of the Scots who emigrated after the '45 had to swear allegiance to the English Crown in order to leave. They felt their sworn word was more important to them than to side with the Patriots. Flora Macdonald's husband was one caught in this situation, and after the Loyalists lost, they went back to Scotland.

Brian

Not only this, but for some, religious and cultural differences played a part. Remember that the majority of rebels, especially in the Carolinas, were Ulster-Scots Protestants, whilst many Highlanders were Roman Catholic or Episcopalian, although some had converted to Presbyterian. The Highlanders who immigrated to the North American colonies simply didn't have much in common with their Lowland neighbours who were stirring up trouble.

Duane Meyer's The Highland Scots in North Carolina does an excellent job telling the story of this group of Loyalists.

Regards,

Todd

[Highland Logan]

Well, PGH....I'm just gonna stay stupid then...'cause I have the opposite opinion on both.

Just remember Ron, opinions aren't facts, they are just opinions.

Most of the Scots who emigrated after the '45 had to swear allegiance to the English Crown in order to leave. They felt their sworn word was more important to them than to side with the Patriots. Flora Macdonald's husband was one caught in this situation, and after the Loyalists lost, they went back to Scotland.

Check your facts.. it was and is the British Crown, and had been for some time. And if a Scot sided with the Loyalists, maybe it was because they felt the Revolution was wrong. And the MacDonalds moved to Nova Scotia after the war, but then moved back to Scotland due to the harshness of the winter weather.

Frank