I won't count myself as an expert, so feel free to skip this post if it isn't helpful. My background is in U.S. history. I can't speak to Canadian or British documentation.
Oral history and written history are two different matters and people will weigh them differently. I have not read Mr. Swankey's work, but I would want to know more about what kind of "vetting" the Haida did before I can judge the impartiality of the work. (Edit to add, if you want to talk about the issues with oral history, my family's oral history describes tribal members removing blankets from the graves of people who had passed from illness. This would be post-civil war northern plains. When I worked in collaboration with Crow staff from the Little bighorn site, I was informed that blankets were a status symbol and all us women had to wear them for a special event. I remember this because it was 90F out and I was ready to strangle the chief of interpretation with said blanket. But if this is true, then it could be interpolated that blankets--in this area--were valuable enough both practically and socially that some people would have enough motivation to take them in that manner. However, an entire narrative can not be written solely from such stories. Rather they should be small pieces of the bigger picture, supported or refuted by multiple sources.)
According to a U.S. history professor I worked with who was trying to trace primary sources for this aspect of history on the U.S. side, he believed this claim originated from a passing mention in a letter written by a British officer (I'm sorry, it was so long ago I can't remember the officer's name and date of the letter, and I don't want to dox my coworker since his professional opinion may be unpopular).
He had been unable to find any further follow up in the written record, specifically in relation to any official U.S. government policy or general implementation of such a strategy. This was some years ago so I am unaware if his research produced any more primary sources. Thus far the letter he read has been the only direct primary source I've seen in it's entirety. Like you, I have come up short when trying to locate documentation. The Wikipedia (yes, I know) page for smallpox lists several sources under the "biological warfare" section related to what is written there and it could be interesting to look into those publications.
I also have had questions about how people understood disease at this time, and how would they determine the unlucky guy who would get to "gift" infected goods and potentially be infected himself. I have to wonder how this was supposed to work logistically based on their (lack of) understanding of viruses. Maybe I'm over complicating this, but I would not be eager to mess around with anything from a smallpox victim any more than necessary.
This is a difficult subject to examine though and find the actual facts, both because of how long ago this was, and because of the emotional aspect. I still remember a (different) professor I had in college when I was studying for my bachelor's in history who was giddy about how many white people had died from tobacco and how they deserved it and it was great the native tribes got revenge like that. I had a hard time accepting him as a (reasonably) unbiased source afterwards, though he would count as an expert.
I've managed to collect a few vintage holiday ornaments and I really enjoy putting them out every year. I just found the three little figurines at a thrift shop (they are actually place card holders, imagine how cute that dinner table must have been!) The angel was damaged so I replaced her wings and gave her a star.
Let's see your vintage holiday, winter solstice, etc. decor!
These were so great! I still have the Disney version:
I loved these so much. My room was wallpapered with my "designs".
I found this vintage printed panel for making a Cinderella doll, and it was so much fun to assemble and embellish. I added lace, ribbons, gemstones, gold thread, silver fabric paint, sequins on the crown, various beads, gold ric-rac around the pillow, and white piping on the cape. The cape is detachable (using small snaps). I also added a magnet to the shoe which sticks to a metal button on the pillow; that way it can be taken on and off. I'm impressed with how the arms can be moved. They are attached with a thread that goes through the body which allows the arms to pivot. I'm so excited to give this as a Christmas gift for my daughter!
I'd love to see other dolls of this sort assembled, has anyone else here made one?
What kinds of pies or other desserts do you make for the holidays? I usually make pumpkin (from a family recipe), and during this last Thanksgiving I also tried a new recipe for a lemon cheesecake sort of filling (from a book "Best of Country Pies").
I've been using frozen pumpkin the last couple pies, and I feel like the texture is mushy. Has anyone else had that experience with frozen pumpkin?
I currently have a 2007 VW and another one from 2018. The quality and little special features and details have greatly declined. Before this I had a 2001 model which I drove over 300,000 miles. The 2018 one just doesn't feel as sturdy. I've been a VW fan for a long time, but this last car is disappointing compared to what they used to make.
At least where I live, animal control falls under the police department. Could be different elsewhere.
No I can't seem to get it to open, which is a problem on my end.
Great find! I recently found one full of various notions for $5. These old tins are like finding a treasure chest!
Good for you! I'm so happy to see people repairing clothes instead of tossing them. I got a speedweave and it has made mending even easier.
Yes, bring back the New Deal Democrats! Enough of Third Way neoliberalism.
Rainbow over Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.
Durango Mall has a lot of stores shuttered. There's a TJ Maxx, Ross, Shoe Dept., Claire's, Maurices, Zumiez and a nail salon left. In the last few years many stores have closed, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Pier 1, JCPenney, and Sears. Oddly Old Navy just opened in the old Pier 1 space. All the rides and candy machines were removed for COVID and never returned. Most of the benches are gone. No food court. There's a rumor Hobby Lobby may take over the JCPenney store, and several people have suggested they should being back the bowling alley like they had when they first opened. I did have fun walking through the Spirit Halloween haunting the remains of this mall. Photo taken 1PM on a Tues.
My daughter wants to be a flower fairy for Halloween so I made this hat to go with her costume. I love the purple yarn but I bought it second hand and discovered it had been stored with moth balls so that was an adventure getting the smell out. I think it is ok now! I might add a ribbon to help cinch it around her head, I think a little bow would look nice. You can't really tell here but I added sparkly purple thread to make it extra magical. I hope she likes it!
In Colorado.
Yay or nay?
I was looking at the special edition Bernina machines and they are pretty, but I can't justify the extra $1,000 price difference. I decided to add my own stickers instead.
Do you mean the sound or the mechanism of play was like an accordion? Organs can have a somewhat accordion sound. Here are some different types of organs (not Arab specifically) from Museum Speelklok. They specialize in self playing instruments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC6YgCLvt5g&t=57
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6CiJfJS0s4&t=53
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkh5zmPz4ZU&t=37