Nomads

[AltTransBikes]

Contrary to current popular imagination, true nomads, historical and contemporary, had and have fixed circuits, well known routes, stable relationships to places and a love and appreciation for them all.

They are far from being the aimless drifters that the word nomad often connotes nowadays. Their life was/is real by default, travel light, move the herd, hunt here no more, seek shelter beyond the the reach of the settled and satisfied classes.

 

[hippiechk]

I've always liked the historic nomadic traditional peoples. I find their stories interesting.

I'm supposed to come from Irish "Traveller" decent way back a couple of hundred years or so. Like most nomadic cultural history the Irish is to this day primarily oral but I've learned that in most instances Irish nomads are the dispossessed, they were driven to itinerant work by famines and by harsh economic times.

Hmmm...I've always been called an Irish throwback in my family, but then I've been called a lot of things in my family *laugh*.

And Happy Boxing Day! Its still a stat holiday in Canada, and in Ireland...sadly now associated as Canada's biggest retail "sale event" of the year but most get paid holiday rates if they must work.

 

[owl]

In my nomad family it was called the loop.

 

[AltTransBikes]

In my nomad family it was called the loop.

That's definitely something I'd like to hear more about sometime.

 

[Patrick46]

That's definitely something I'd like to hear more about sometime.

Me too!

Native American by any chance??

I can visualize Indigenous tribes going from their spring planting grounds, to the summer hunting grounds, in the fall to the harvest grounds, and then on to their winter encampments, and back around come springtime.

 

[papas34]

Funny this came up.....just the other day I was told we go around in circles counter clock wise!!!!
Last summer I planed to go clockwise, but one phone call and I was going counter clock wise......I know this sounds like I'm being silly, but I'm on the level.

 

[owl]

Patrick, Alt, yes Creek from res in NW Ok. By my familys time the roaming had stopped, they were confined to reservations by the government. They couldn't stop my fathers hunting, fishing and some other illegalities although they tried. I think most folks have roam in them, but modern life crushes it out of them. That's why folks act negatively to a lifestyle they don't have the guts to undertake.
papas, funny things happen when you try to plan sometimes. Sounds like you're fluid enough to go with it.

 

[papas34]

Flexible yes.....pole dancer....not that flexible!!!!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Patrick, the Coos Peoples of your area have an interesting history, altho, they weren't migratory as some others. Moved as a result of treaties, their numbers dwindled quickly. Some tribes in that area have populations in the dozens rather than hundreds these days. We enjoyed the displays of their culture at the Mill casino/hotel. I can imagine seeing longhouses with smoke rising across the bay.

In the southwest, the mystery of the Anasazi continues to baffle the scientific world.

 

[ice_maiden]

Patrick, Alt, yes Creek from res in NW Ok. By my familys time the roaming had stopped, they were confined to reservations by the government. They couldn't stop my fathers hunting, fishing and some other illegalities although they tried. I think most folks have roam in them, but modern life crushes it out of them. That's why folks act negatively to a lifestyle they don't have the guts to undertake.
papas, funny things happen when you try to plan sometimes. Sounds like you're fluid enough to go with it.

Hmm owl, my people are from OK also, with some Native american decent, although mine lied on the census so they could own land at the time. But my Great grandfather had to attend Indian school at Violet Springs. I have cousins that still talk about "that Indian woman" ...Who just happens to be their Grandmother (my GG Grandmother), although she died in a flu epidemic before they knew her. Even so, the family steadily migrate west till some of them ended in California. My Great great grandfather, fathered his last two children in California at the age of 62 & 64.

 

[Patrick46]

Patrick, the Coos Peoples of your area have an interesting history, altho, they weren't migratory as some others. Moved as a result of treaties, their numbers dwindled quickly. Some tribes in that area have populations in the dozens rather than hundreds these days. We enjoyed the displays of their culture at the Mill casino/hotel.

Quite familiar with the Coos tribe, as my sister-in-law's husband is the son of the Coos tribal chief.
...and my sister in law works at the gaming commissioner's office at the casino.

I've also done some signwork and built display stuff for the casino myself. (didja see the storyteller diarama at the top of the stairs??)
funny, small world, ain't it??


btw.....didn't you guys stay at the Mill Casino's RV park this past summer?? (were you there for like a month or so??)

 

[AltTransBikes]

Let me ask about current day nomads. Is there such a thing in contemporary America and if so how would you describe that?

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We were a bit more nomadic when we went thru Coos Bay. We stayed 1 night in their RV park and a couple more in the dry lot last spring.
We would recommend that anyone visiting the area see that diorama, as well as their other displays.
Had we been more active on the site back then we would have given you a shout.
Would have enjoyed seeing your fabrications.

In keeping with the topic...
Many native tribes, if not nomads, sent out traders. This is evidenced by artifacts found to be "imported" other areas. Turquoise (sky stone) has been excavated where there was none for a couple thousand miles, as have shells.

 

[papas34]

In the southwest, the mystery of the Anasazi continues to baffle the scientific world.

I have a book....1491 New Revelations of The Americas Before Columbus

by Charles C. Mann

It talks of this very interesting subject....highly recommend by me.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

There are many theories about the Anasazi people, but no one has positive proof as to why they vanished. Had it not been for their dwellings and artifacts we wouldn't have known they existed at all.