tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post9078268888778216663..comments2024-03-18T18:05:25.821-07:00Comments on VISIONS OF THE NORTH: Finding Franklin (Documentary)Russell Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-14906651802501211992009-08-26T17:43:31.297-07:002009-08-26T17:43:31.297-07:00It's a long story -- there is, I agree, no phy...It's a long story -- there is, I agree, no physical evidence whatsoever of any attack by Inuit on any party of Franklin's men. A few years ago, I came upon a web essay by Ernie containing his assertions, and was able to contact him by e-mail. He said that his evidence came from an "Inuit" source, but when I later had a chance to talk with him in person, it came out that his source was an Inuk woman who'd spoken with him on the tarmac at the Yellowknife airport! One does occasionally hear such claims up north; when I was in Gjoa Haven I met a fellow named James Qitsualik who passed along some similar claims from one of his relatives. But I think these tales are most probably very much garbled versions of earlier oral histories that have just become corrupted with age, repetition and the slow death of oral traditional culture. Dorothy Eber's new book details some of these, and while they do occasionally contain material that you can recognize in terms of testimony given to Hall or Schwatka, it's often distorted and misleading.<br /><br />The only connection I can think of would be that there are some stories in Nourse's edition of Hall's second expedition narrative in which Inuit described an attack on Franklin's men by "Et-ker-lin" -- that is, Itqilit, or sub-Arctic Indians tribes. In one story, "Aglooka" is said to have gotten a cut on his face during such an attack. These stories, though, were somewhat vague and contradictory even in the 1860's when they were first written down, so I don't think a great deal of faith can be placed in them; the very bad relations between Inuit and subarctic tribes at this period may have been a motive to slur them, I suspect.Russell Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-33963807708797266352009-08-24T22:49:42.788-07:002009-08-24T22:49:42.788-07:00I think you are being too kind. Just what evidence...I think you are being too kind. Just what evidence have they found at Erebus bay indicating an attack by Inuit? The cut marks seem to have been done by metal knives. I would like to know what evidence he has for the Inuit ritually cutting up their enemies bodies. In fact it appears Inuit attacks on explorers seem to have been quite rare. Sorry all of this seems to be right back to 19th century fanatasies of "bloodthirsty savages". Finally given the paucity of evidence how is he so sure?xibalbahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224952131898257723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-58240049072634898712009-08-24T17:33:40.650-07:002009-08-24T17:33:40.650-07:00Knowing Ernie, I think he's just saying here t...Knowing Ernie, I think he's just saying here that "they" (that is, one or another modern-day Inuit) have told him that such a thing occurred. I disagree with him, but I don't think he's saying he's communed with the spirits!Russell Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-46130074922805239332009-08-23T09:01:31.457-07:002009-08-23T09:01:31.457-07:00As a follow up I found the following quote from Co...As a follow up I found the following quote from Coleman at http://hidden-tracks-book.blogspot.com/2009/02/all-about-lead.html<br /><br />To quote:<br />"The men who died as a result of a native attack at Erebus Bay (oh yes they did - please do not tell me that such a suggestion is 'not appropriate', they admitted it to me)"<br /><br />I must thank Mr. Coleman for giving a very good reason not to take him eriously.xibalbahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224952131898257723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-81934292949659742762009-08-23T07:40:35.586-07:002009-08-23T07:40:35.586-07:00The "Muderous Inuit" theory. From Charle...The "Muderous Inuit" theory. From Charles Dickens to today how tiresome. The evidence for this seems to be close to non-existant. I am aware of the Cape York in Greenland story but for the life of me I can't take it very seriously. Both the distance from King William island, the lack of contact between Inuit bands along with the told to x, who told y who told m who told s effect. Finally why the need to blame the Inuit?xibalbahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224952131898257723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-54013169567924633812009-03-22T05:57:00.000-07:002009-03-22T05:57:00.000-07:00Hi Chris,Thanks for your kind words. From what yo...Hi Chris,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your kind words. From what you say, I do think you'd quite enjoy the Murray documentary; the YouTube version is quite watchable as long as you don't mind an hour and a half seated at the computer.<BR/><BR/>The "Inuit visit" scene in the NOVA show is a bit oddly done -- the testimony described the commander pointing to a tent on the shore, whereas, since this was filmed on the Cutty Sark at Greenwich, above-deck shots weren't possible; it leaves the viewer puzzled as to how the Inuk could have understood Fitzjames's "do not go there!" at all!Russell Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873756940955163469.post-51975205503199968612009-03-21T21:15:00.000-07:002009-03-21T21:15:00.000-07:00This new website is excellent. I've had your RIC w...This new website is excellent. I've had your RIC website book marked for years now.<BR/><BR/>I have heard of this documentary but haven't seen it yet. The PBS Nova documentary is very good but tends to follow the standard reconstruction. The one exception to this being the Inuit visit to a manned ship.<BR/><BR/>I've spent many hours reading and rereading both of Woodman's books and plan to get a copy of Nourse's book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com