The SF author and futurist Karll Schroeder has written some stories using potlatch as an economic/cultural system. The Haida recently acquired full sovereignty over Haida Gwaii, so who knows where it might go in the future.
The Clans were destroyed by the simple measure of making the “Chief” the owner of the land
It was not (just) the English that operated the Clearances - it was the Chiefs - the Lairds - who became the owners of the land and could make more money from sheep than people
I don't know a great deal about it, except as a sort of elaboration of what i think of as probably the first human economic system - the gift economy. But as i understand it, even gift economy misers faced real social pressure to give it back. I remember hearing of an Inuit village where they actually killed a guy because he didn't share his hunting proceeds. I can't verify that, but it seems plausible to me in a subsistence culture.
Thanks for thinking of me - I appreciate you reaching out! I can see we both share an interest in questioning received narratives, though I think we come at it from pretty different angles. My approach tends to stay closer to documented sources and systems analysis rather than alternative chronologies. Happy writing, and best of luck with your work.
The SF author and futurist Karll Schroeder has written some stories using potlatch as an economic/cultural system. The Haida recently acquired full sovereignty over Haida Gwaii, so who knows where it might go in the future.
The Clans were destroyed by the simple measure of making the “Chief” the owner of the land
It was not (just) the English that operated the Clearances - it was the Chiefs - the Lairds - who became the owners of the land and could make more money from sheep than people
Yep. That’s my read on it too.
I find the west coast political system of Potlatch even more interesting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potlatch
I don't know a great deal about it, except as a sort of elaboration of what i think of as probably the first human economic system - the gift economy. But as i understand it, even gift economy misers faced real social pressure to give it back. I remember hearing of an Inuit village where they actually killed a guy because he didn't share his hunting proceeds. I can't verify that, but it seems plausible to me in a subsistence culture.
Thanks for thinking of me - I appreciate you reaching out! I can see we both share an interest in questioning received narratives, though I think we come at it from pretty different angles. My approach tends to stay closer to documented sources and systems analysis rather than alternative chronologies. Happy writing, and best of luck with your work.
Nice idea! Our thing is less organized than that even; if I’m missing a tool I just ask around or check in Neighbor Jake’s shed.