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Mon, 27 Dec 2004 20:51:48 -0700 |
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Hello,
I am currently thinking about how to bring a Native perspective to
Night Sky interpretation. One possibility might be to feature
Medicine Wheels. There are several in the area where I live: Southern
Alberta. However, I am not so sure whether this is a good idea after
all. After some research on (Stonehenge and) Medicine Wheels it
appears to me that the claims on archaeo-astronomy are very
controversial within the archaological community. I am not sure I
want to brush over these controversies and present Medicine Wheels as
of sophisticated, astronomical significance. I'd be much more
comfortable if there were an approach to Medicine Wheels through
members of local Native tribes. However, at least in Southern
Alberta, Medicine Wheels seem to come from an era when different
Native tribes were roaming this area and so knowledge on the why's
and how's of Medicine Wheels can not be tapped through the local
Native community. The final word on this is not yet spoken as I yet
have to talk to more people in the Native community to find out what
their take on the Medicine Wheels is.
I am wondering whether anybody has featured medicine wheels as part
of astronomy interpretation. What was your experience? What are your
thoughts on my above concerns? Have you managed to link the rock
formations to the current traditional knowledge of Native tribes?
Any thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated,
Peter Davis
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