Re: native american persona (long)

[Christoph Hintze <chhintze@bmd.clis.com>]

Poster: Christoph Hintze <chhintze@bmd.clis.com>

Unto Karl der Jaeger and the other patrons of the Merry Rose, greetings!

I would be very interested in whatever info you dig up on native American
personas.  We have a new member who is of partial native American descent,
and she is considering taking a native American persona.  (Her alternate
choice is Byzantine.)  It is my understanding that native Americans WERE
brought back to Europe, and not just as curiosities, but in some cases as
-er- unpaid labor.  

As to the SCA being "about" Western Europe, according to the Organizational
Handbook, section titled "Scope of the Society:  Period and Culture":

"The Society is based on the landed nobility of the European 
Middle Ages and Renaissance. <big snip>

"For Society members, most of the world can serve as a source
 for personal research.  However, the further afield you go, 
the less the environment we offer will resemble what someone 
of your time and country would find natural or homelike. . . .
you can be an Asian or African guest at a European court, but
 you cannot recreate your homeland outside your own household
 - like any long-term visitor in a foreign land, you are the 
one who will have to adapt to the customs you find around you."


Unfortunately, Thorbjorn Thordarssen (sp?) has recently moved out of state.
He became inactive a few years ago, but had continued to offer help with
research and persona development to anyone interested.  

His persona was a Norseman who visited a friend's settlement (in the New
World), decided to see how far North and West he could sail, got shipwrecked
in the PACIFIC Ocean, and made a solo two- or three-year transcontinental
trek to get home again!  Along the way, he met his wife, who had a native
American persona.  In fact, I believe she was from one of the NC tribes.

Thor's attitude re documentation was, "If you can't prove it DIDN'T happen,
there's always a chance that someone did it."  (Hoo, boy!  And if anyone out
there remembers Thorbjorn, I'm sure you'll agree he's one of the few who
would have done it and lived to tell the tale!!!)  He gave me his persona
history once, several pages detailing the trip back home.  I don't know if I
have it still, but if he ever gets us his new address, I'd be glad to write
him & ask if I may pass it along to anyone interested.  

One final note:  Although his persona ia a Moslem and not native American,
Duke Sir Cariadoc of the Bow, of the Midrealm (Chicago area, I believe) has
made a particular study of persona and staying in persona at events - as a
non-Western European.  I have several of his articles from back issues of
T.I., and I am pretty sure he is willing to correspond with those who share
that interest.  If you want to go with a native American persona, the
articles may be of interest to you.

In service,
Lady Katriona of NorthWoods
Senescahl for the Shire of Cathanar


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