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.
We really tried to grow lemon verbena and I wish it had done well enough to make tea. If it's that good I might try again! I think we need to try a spot with less intense sun and make sure it doesn't dry out too much.
Let's talk about tea!
In the summer I enjoy fresh peppermint tea (mint seems to be one of the few plants that grow in my garden 😭). Now that the mint is dormant, I've been mixing oolang (for its health benefits) with jasmine and rooibos to soften the flavor.
Also, I love my electric kettle, it makes boiling water so quick and easy!
The photo is my most treasured tea pot which I inherited from my grandma. Let's see your beautiful tea related china!
I'm getting into quilts recently (especially scrappy ones really fit my vibe) so here's my first try at free motion quilting. Anyone else have nice quilted decor to show off?
Don't worry, I'll help make pies 😄
It looks so comfy! By the 6th (or 7th!) time you must be pretty fast at making these. It's nice to get all the fitting and alterations worked out so you can just sit down and sew a pattern.
I'm trying to sew a similar dress designed for jersey, but I went with an amazingly soft rayon jersey which is a nightmare to work with. I thought it would be nice for summer and then I could layer my knit sweaters and shawls over it in winter. Yeah..I've set it down for months now. I admire that in the time I've been procrastinating... you're actually making something! Good job!
This basically describes any activity I start with my daughter (5) 😄😭 Though she does like finger knitting, just not with the yarn I give her. Even if she chose it herself. Stolen scraps apparently make for the best finger knitting.
I'm a little embarrassed to post this since I'm a beginner, but I'm pretty happy to have finished this table runner. This is my very first attempt at free motion quilting! I'm not very experienced with applique either, but I do like the 3D effect from the dense quilting around the shapes.
I am wondering though, does anyone have advice for transferring the pattern to the fabric? I used tracing paper, but it was very hard to see the lines on the dark blue, and it wore off easily. I've used iron on designs before and that worked great on light fabrics, but what do you use on a dark background?
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?
Yay for socks! (Booo for COVID)
I have sock related questions! I'm making a new pair of socks as a Christmas gift, for someone who wore a hole in the previous pair. How do you guys mend your socks? I patched them pretty quickly with a speed weave, but of course the texture of the patch doesn't match. On the other hand I have a young child and I like the speed part of the speed weave 😅
Favorite sock yarns? I love Drops Fabel so much. The colors, durability, and price are all great. Plus lots of patterns from the company. But it is so much harder to get here in the U.S.
Has anyone used Cascade Yarns "Fixation?" The local yarn shop owner claims this yarn is near indestructible. But it's pricey and cotton, so I'm not going to knit a whole pair out of it. I'm intending to reinforce the heel and toe of the socks I'm currently making with this yarn.
The Fabel socks I've started, plus a couple other pairs that are going strong after a several years of wear (red is one strand, blue is held double):
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!
Rainbow over Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.
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