this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
26 points (90.6% liked)

History

4322 readers
6 users here now

Welcome to History!

This community is dedicated to sharing and discussing fascinating historical facts from all periods and regions.

Rules:

FOLLOW THE CODE OF CONDUCT

NOTE WELL: Personal attacks and insults will not be tolerated. Stick to talking about the historical topic at hand in your comments. Insults and personal attacks will get you an immediate ban for a period of time determined by the moderator who bans you.

  1. Post about history. Ask a question about the past, share a link to an article about something historical, or talk about something related to history that interests you. Please encourage discussion whenever possible.

  2. No memes. No ads. No promos. No spam.

  3. No porn.

  4. We like facts and reliable sources here. Don't spread misinformation or try to change the historical record.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
Zoidsberg@lemmy.ca
forensic_potato@lemmy.world
zoidsberg@lemmy.world
26
Did Europeans intentionally infect North American Natives with smallpox/disease? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by rab@lemmy.ca to c/history@lemmy.world
5 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

https://haidagwaiipledge.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Final-Draft-HG-Visitor-Orientation.pdf

I'm reading the haida gwaii visitor orientation, under section 2.b.i., Disease and Decimation

"Our oral records of the intentional introduction of smallpox have been reaffirmed in Tom Swankey’s recent publications, including work that has been vetted by the Haida Nation. Through evidence found in captains' logs and journals of government officials such as Francis Poole and James Douglas, this disease outbreak has been confirmed as an act of biological warfare."

My understanding was always that back then, disease wasn't well understood, and that the first european explorers especially to haida gwaii did not realize they carried disease and by the time they made contact it the damage was already done. Both parties were merely interested in trading, and disease inadvertently spread, at least that is what I thought.

I tried finding the captains logs they mention but my search came up empty.

Can any experts here weigh in?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] rab@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 months ago

I'm Canadian too and of course natives were treated deplorably, that's no secret

I am just skeptical that early explorers would be hellbent on spreading disease, when their priorities were to map the globe and bring home pelts