![]() ![]() The dominance of the church in all aspects of life until then was finally loosened, unleashing forces that were helped by Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press. Whether it was painting, music or sculpture, the Church was the patron and major consumer, making it the engine of cultural, economic and social activity. It would be difficult to exaggerate the degree of control exercised by religious authorities in that era. In addition, there was strife among rival groups of Protestants which provoked further conflict and bloodshed. What followed was a century of religious wars as, in country after country, there was a struggle between Catholics and rebels who were labelled Protestants. The Reformation in the 16 th century led to the disintegration of the Holy Roman Empire and the fracturing of Christianity. ![]() The continent had gone through the Reformation and the Renaissance both of which represented a major shift in the way they saw the world. Europe had emerged from the Dark Ages by the time of European colonization of North America. ![]() To understand how Settlers who came to North America regarded Indigenous people, it is important to explore the worldview that prevailed in their home countries at that time. One could argue, that culture shock manifested itself in both camps because of the profound differences that separated them. They were curious and initially, helped these newcomers adjust to this new continent. Never had they encountered people who were so pale, who conducted themselves in strange ways and of course, spoke a strange language. In addition, it was difficult to communicate with them because they spoke different languages.įor Indigenous groups, the newcomers were equally baffling. When colonists arrived in Canada they encountered Indigenous groups who looked different, dressed and behaved in ways that baffled them. Displacement from a familiar environment was disorienting and often produced feelings of frustration, confusion, insecurity and worse. Perhaps they will now be interested in learning more about a group that has much to teach us.Īnthropologists use the term “culture shock” to describe their reaction on field trips which exposed them to cultures that were radically different from their own. It is also true that there is a growing slice of the population that shares the views of Indigenous people with respect to the environment. Not everyone has succumbed to mindless consumerism: there is a slice of the population that has resisted its worst excesses. An “I Shop Therefore I Am” mentality has developed and has been encouraged by governments dependent on a prosperous economy. This trend accelerated when Europeans adopted a North American lifestyle and it finally spread to developing countries as well. The orgy of consumption, starting in North America, has drawn down resources that took millennia to accumulate. However, the trajectory we are on, certainly since World War II, is destroying the planet. I don’t have to catalogue Western ideas and achievements that have transformed the world in a positive way as they are already well-known. ![]() My primary intent was to explore Indigenous ways of knowing and living and to compare them with those in Europe when Settlers arrived. However, that is not my intention and I hope it will not be taken as such. The following analysis might sound like a sweeping denunciation of Western culture and values. ![]()
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