So today is Truth and Reconciliation Day here in Canada. I then see it is my 4x Great Uncle's Dr John Rae's 208th Birthday. Why is this important and life isn't just random fate? He was one of the few explorers who had deep respect of the First Nations People. They called him long strider.
There was a ceremony at his place of rest today, St Magnus Cathedral on the Orkney Islands. There is already a statue of him in the harbor and on his place of rest. He never had any Children, so I am one of his closest descendants.
He not only learned critical survival skills from the Cree and Inuit, he would walk miles to care for them as a Doctor. Our family to this day has respect for First Nations people, my Father especially thought a lot of them as a people.
One thing people don't realize there was a bitter rivalry between the HBC and the Royal Navy. Dr Rae called them "Self Sufficient Donkeys". He said they looked down on them for going "Native". The Franklin Expedition failed miserably because of this attitude. Dr Rae not only travelled light, with mostly necessary items, he did carry a copy of " A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mostly using First Nations survival methods, had them as guides, he blended European Technology like rifles and inflatable rafts with their techniques honed over thousands of years. Who else could Winter in the Arctic in mid 1800's? Pretty him and the Inuit.
He traveled 1200 miles on his custom design snow shoes to learn surveying.
When he found out the fate of the Franklin Expedition from the Inuit, he trusted their word. They were hesitant to go to the site due to bad spirits, at least 10 days away. He didn't particularly want to spend two Winter's in a row in the Arctic.
He returned to the British Navy Admiralty with their fate and revealed the last link of the Northwest Passage, Rae Straight. Rol Amundsen sailed through it to complete the passage a few years later. He didn't realize there was a reward for the proof of the Franklin Expedition, people unfairly saw him as greedy.
His report leaked to the London Times. He was too trusting that the truth was enough. Lady Franklin's pal, the author Charles Dickens in Household Words, called him wretched and the Inuits liars, covetous and treacherous savages. He rebutted in Household Words, it was well written defending the Inuit but public opinion didn't want his side. Victorian England didn't want to hear "Savage Lies" about their heroes. The Inuit Oral Tradition mentioned nothing of murder or cannibalism, they tried help to them. Forensic Evidence showed steel blades committed cuts consistent with cannibalism. Pretty sure a small family of Inuit didn't over power and eat 129 trained soldiers with guns. The fact is -60 is something few chose to live in. Ironically multiple sites named after my relative or he named have returned to their native name.
The people of the Orkney Islands are working hard to preserve this trail blazer's legacy, not only literally but in attitude as well. They are restoring my family home, The Hall of Celestrain. I plan on seeing it before I leave this World.
Happy 208th Birthday 4x Uncle Dr John Rae. Some of us will make sure you are not forgotten.
I hope the First Nations People find forgiveness, move forward, break the willing slavery of the treaty system and live good lives.
There was a ceremony at his place of rest today, St Magnus Cathedral on the Orkney Islands. There is already a statue of him in the harbor and on his place of rest. He never had any Children, so I am one of his closest descendants.
He not only learned critical survival skills from the Cree and Inuit, he would walk miles to care for them as a Doctor. Our family to this day has respect for First Nations people, my Father especially thought a lot of them as a people.
One thing people don't realize there was a bitter rivalry between the HBC and the Royal Navy. Dr Rae called them "Self Sufficient Donkeys". He said they looked down on them for going "Native". The Franklin Expedition failed miserably because of this attitude. Dr Rae not only travelled light, with mostly necessary items, he did carry a copy of " A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mostly using First Nations survival methods, had them as guides, he blended European Technology like rifles and inflatable rafts with their techniques honed over thousands of years. Who else could Winter in the Arctic in mid 1800's? Pretty him and the Inuit.
He traveled 1200 miles on his custom design snow shoes to learn surveying.
When he found out the fate of the Franklin Expedition from the Inuit, he trusted their word. They were hesitant to go to the site due to bad spirits, at least 10 days away. He didn't particularly want to spend two Winter's in a row in the Arctic.
He returned to the British Navy Admiralty with their fate and revealed the last link of the Northwest Passage, Rae Straight. Rol Amundsen sailed through it to complete the passage a few years later. He didn't realize there was a reward for the proof of the Franklin Expedition, people unfairly saw him as greedy.
His report leaked to the London Times. He was too trusting that the truth was enough. Lady Franklin's pal, the author Charles Dickens in Household Words, called him wretched and the Inuits liars, covetous and treacherous savages. He rebutted in Household Words, it was well written defending the Inuit but public opinion didn't want his side. Victorian England didn't want to hear "Savage Lies" about their heroes. The Inuit Oral Tradition mentioned nothing of murder or cannibalism, they tried help to them. Forensic Evidence showed steel blades committed cuts consistent with cannibalism. Pretty sure a small family of Inuit didn't over power and eat 129 trained soldiers with guns. The fact is -60 is something few chose to live in. Ironically multiple sites named after my relative or he named have returned to their native name.
The people of the Orkney Islands are working hard to preserve this trail blazer's legacy, not only literally but in attitude as well. They are restoring my family home, The Hall of Celestrain. I plan on seeing it before I leave this World.
Happy 208th Birthday 4x Uncle Dr John Rae. Some of us will make sure you are not forgotten.
I hope the First Nations People find forgiveness, move forward, break the willing slavery of the treaty system and live good lives.
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