Re: native american persona (long)

[Tom Rettie <tom@his.com>]

Poster: Tom Rettie <tom@his.com>

At 08:20 AM 3/25/97 -0500, Christoph Hintze wrote:

>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.  

Good my lord and gentles all,

No doubt, though I think you need to narrow down who you are referring to as
"native Americans."  Much of the contact that the Spanish and English had
prior to 1600 was in the Carribean and Central American area.  Francis Drake
made his fortune selling African slaves to the Spanish in the Carribean,
bringing back booty from raids on Spanish settlements and treasure ships.
But this is a very different group of people than the natives of the
mid-Atlantic states (of Pocahontas fame).  Saying I want a native American
personna is kind of like saying I want a European personna, it doesn't
narrow things down much.

>Thor's attitude re documentation was, "If you can't prove it DIDN'T happen,
>there's always a chance that someone did it."  

Be most careful on that slippery slope, my lord.  Knowledge of denim and
copper rivets does not make blue jeans period.  

The major challenge I see in having a New World personna is that there is
very little in the way of period primary sources (at least that I'm aware
of), and most of those are from European perspective and pretty biased.
Much of what we think of as "traditional" native American culture came about
after the arrival of Europeans (and horses).  The "Indians" I saw at Pennsic
a couple of years ago were doing distinctly non-period Plains culture..well,
really a bizarre mix of Plains, Northwest, and Hollywood Indians.  Too bad,
because really well researched and documented, it could be pretty interesting.

I think I would suggest someone really interested in doing this should start
with it as an "alternate" personna.  Perhaps a Carribean native brought back
to Europe, in the "care" of a European noble.  Hey, you could be both the
New Worlder and the European noble.  But as such, you probably would only
wear your "native" garb when you were being shown off at Court or fairs and
such.  

>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.  

His most honorable Grace is an excellent model and source for personna
information.  And should the opportunity ever arise, request his recitation
of the very first Pennsic scouting report: it is a stirring performance.

Your humble servant,

Findlaech mac Alasdair

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