Wednesday, November 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
GRAVY: Pilgrims’ landing had lasting impact
— Continued from page 16 —
heritage, even the fact they had unique load-
bearing mammals, like horses. These factors
combined gave the conquistadors a massive
advantage over the sophisticated civilizations
of the Aztec and Inca empires.
“But weapons alone can’t account for the
breathtaking speed with which the indigenous
population of the New World were completely
wiped out.
“Within just a few generations, the conti-
nents of the Americas were virtually emptied
of their native inhabitants — some academics
estimate that approximately 20 million peo-
ple may have died in the years following the
European invasion – up to 95 percent of the
population of the Americas.
No medieval force, no matter how blood-
thirsty, could have achieved such enormous
levels of genocide. Instead, Europeans were
aided by a deadly secret weapon they weren’t
even aware they were carrying: Smallpox.”
Smallpox probably wasn’t the culprit in
the case of the Wampanoag (bubonic plague
seems most likely), but the point remains
valid: The land was cleared for the Pilgrims
and other European settlers in large part by
germs. The Pilgrims, as was their wont, attrib-
uted this to God. The Wampanoag, no less
metaphysical in their orientation, may have
done the same.
Of course it is important to recognize that
there is no agency here. Although there were
later plots to infect Indian populations with
smallpox deliberately, the massive destruc-
tion wrought by germs was biological hap-
penstance. As the Black Plague reshaped
Europe, killing a third of its population,
so germs reshaped North America. I take
issue with the use of the term genocide to
describe the devastation wrought by disease
upon the native populations. Genocide is a
fraught term, implying a deliberate program
of destruction against a targeted group. That
isn’t what happened here. But deliberate or
not, lack of resistance to European diseases
doomed the native peoples, greatly reducing
their populations and weakening their base of
resistance before the intruders even arrived in
force.
“We Shall Remain — After the Mayflower”
documents the gradual — and probably
inevitable — breakdown of the Puritan/
Wampanoag alliance, which ended in King
Philip’s War in the 1670s — the bloodiest
conflict in American history. Per capita casu-
alties were not equaled even in the American
Civil War.
This was no storybook First Thanksgiving
story to warm the heart, but watching it is a
family tradition. It isn’t all about football and
turkey. The tale is a poignant one for a festive
holiday, but one that bears remembering.
21
Beautiful & Histor ic
Lake Cree k Lodge Has
The Best Holiday Parties
On-site chef – Amazing menu
Perfect holiday setting for family or business
Call now to plan your own event or join us
for Christmas Eve dinner at 6 p.m.
Reservations required
541.516.3030
lakecreeklodge.com
Pott ery Studio
S
ale
An invitati
on to sho
& d ri i n k s w p and enjoy some a
p
ith long-tim
e Sisters p petizers
otters
Mitch & M
ichelle D
eaderick
& Sunday
, Decemb
er 2 & 3
11
Or call fo a.m. to 4 p.m.
r a priv
Saturday
o r alw
w a y s
sho
ate appo
intme
wing at
nt
541.54
H ood A v
8.1704
e. Ar t
•
1
Northw est
7
corner of 192 Jordan Rd
Cloverdale
.,
& Jordan Sisters
roads
Hope to see
you there!
Sisters Rental
Last winter taught Sisters the importance
of being prepared. Get ready to deal with
the snowfall we know is coming with Sisters
Rental’s full line of Ariens snow-blowers.
Sisters Rental also offers snow-blower ser-
vice for all makes and models, with parts in
stock to make sure your equipment is ready
for the travails of winter.
And if you’re already dreaming of spring,
now is a GREAT time to get your yard
equipment serviced. Beat the rush and get your power
equipment set up with fuel that will stay good through the winter and be ready to fire up
when the season turns again.
For that hard-to-buy-for person on your list, Sisters Rental offers a complete line of
STIHL equipment and apparel, featuring a lifetime guarantee on all hand tools. Stop by the
showroom — somebody on your list will be really happy you did!
Sutt le Tea
Knowing you value your health, the
Tosello family opened Suttle Tea, envision-
ing an unhurried environment where they
would reintroduce a form of refreshment
steeped in ancient tradition.
As well, they’d offer delicious and dis-
tinctive new signature tea drinks.
Two years later, Suttle Tea is so much
more, having become a kind of community
living room, a popular gathering place for locals and travelers.
This holiday season, the Tosellos invite you to sip tea and shop local. Enjoy all-natural,
handcrafted tea or coffee drinks while finding the perfect gift. Crepes, pastries, fine chocolates.
Suttle Tea features ample seating, free WiFi, and board games. They’re open late on
weeknights!
Stop by and take a little break from that holiday rush, and go home with something won-
derful for the folks on your list.
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
Pick up your
Christmas Tree Permit
and rent or purchase a
Chainsaw or Handsaw
to cut it down!
506 N. Pine St.
541-549-9631
Sales • Service • Rentals • Accessories • www.sistersrental.com
Latte • Chai • Bubble Tea • Matcha
Crepes • Pastries • Fine Chocolates
Gift certifi cates
Loose tea & accessories
Try our Christmas blend! 450 E. Cascade | 541-549-8077
Open Mon.-Fri. 9 am-7:30 pm, Sat. 10 am-6 pm, Sun. 12-6 pm