From: michaelb@cse.fau.edu (Michael Rogero Brown)
Newsgroups: alt.native
Subject: Re: Info on pre-Columbian North American native writing systems wanted
Date: 8 Oct 92 15:47:21 GMT
Organization: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA

In article <1992Oct8.053736.24785@u.washington.edu> twarner@carson.u.washington.edu (Tom Warner) writes:
>	I am looking for sources of information on native North American
>writing systems, particularly the Micmac pictographic/symbolic system and
>the Cree syllabary. I have Barry Fell's "America B.C." where I was stunned
>to read that these writing systems are widely known and were, according to
>prevailing academic opinion, invented by European missionaries and then
>taught to the native people. (supposedly because the systems were easier
>for native people to use and not because the native people were already using
>them.)
WHAT prevailing academic opionion??  Any book on the Cherokee or on the 
Southeastern Indians give credit to Sequoyah for creating the syllabary.
Which is the first time in recorded history of a writing system being
created by a non-literate people.

>	Fell, by the way, has rather convincing comparisons showing the
>similarities of the Micmac system to Egyptian Hieratic writing and the Cree
>syllabary to medieval Basque. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or
>have any opinions about this? Or know where I can find out more?
>	Although Fell does not discuss it, this makes me wonder also about
>the credibility of the historical theory that the Cherokee syllabary was
>invented by a Western-educated Cherokee and then taught to his people,
>also supposedly because the syllabary was easier for Cherokee speakers
>to use and not because the Cherokee were already using it. Does anyone
>know more about this topic or where to go for more info?
>	
>	I'm working on an essay for the student newspaper here along the
>lines that Columbus Day should be a day to think about the pervasiveness
>of dogma, even (especially?) in academia. I would also welcome any thoughts
>on this subject in general.
>A
>Tom Warner
>twarner@u.washington.edu
>	E
I can't believe anyone with any bit of intelligence would believe Barry Fell.

Fell is not accepted by anyone who knows these matters.  The Cherokee sylabary
(not Cree) was created by Sequoyah, NOT some white missionary.  The problem
with Fell and people like him is that anything original that the Native 
Americans created, ie stuff like the mounds, the Cherokee syllabary, anything
advanced like this is instead attriputed to whites.  Either whites who came
over before Columbus, or white settlers.  Personnally I think that is 
insulting of the creativity of Native Americans (and I'm white).  Fell is 
only a few motches above Eric Von Danniken.  I wouldn't be suprised that people 
back in the 1800's believed the Cherokee syllabary was created by whites.
Back then they believed the mounds were built by a pre-contact advanced white
race.  Indians were too lazy in their opionion to create them.  There existed
a myth of the Mound Builders, that was disproven in the mid-1800's, but 
some people probably still believe in.

If you want to do an article on the pervasiveness of dogma, with a great tie-in
with Columbus Day, read _Inventing the Flat Earth_.  Don't recall the author,
but it show that the idea that Columbus proved the earth was round when every
one else thougth it was flat was accually an idea that orginated in the early
1800's.


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