historical and scientific perspectives on the health of canada's first ...

Speaking of peoples who once pursued or still pursue their
traditional lifestyles, it can be said that “relative freedom from
degenerative disorders or diseases was, <strong>and</strong> still is,
characteristic of all societies of hunter-gatherers… [<strong>and</strong>] in
the societies of hunter-gatherer agriculturalists.” This remains
true despite notable differences in plant-animal subsistence
ratios of various indigenous peoples. 16
Canada’s first peoples who practiced agriculture relied heavily
on the planted maize, beans, squashes, pumpkins, <strong>and</strong> melons
of the fields, <strong>and</strong> the peach orchards. Additionally, the wild
grass, seeds, nuts, fruits, <strong>and</strong> roots <strong>and</strong> the products of the traps
or the chase supplemented their diet, whereas the latter nutrient
supplementals served as the primary food sources for the more
strictly hunter-gatherer peoples. 17 Among all tribal peoples the
knowledge of <strong>and</strong> ability to identify, gather, prepare <strong>and</strong> utilize
the edible <strong>and</strong> the healing plants of the environment was
commonly passed down from the parents to the children.
19 th Century Prairie
Through successive generations this traditional knowledge of plant varieties <strong>and</strong> uses grew <strong>and</strong>
exp<strong>and</strong>ed. Among the agriculturists there is evidence that these peoples understood such
principles of modern agricultural <strong>and</strong> plant science as crop rotation, organic fertilization <strong>and</strong>
photosynthesis. Additionally in virtually all geographic regions there was an apparent practical
knowledge of the body's nutritional needs for various vitamins <strong>and</strong> mineral elements, <strong>and</strong> how to
obtain them. This included the use of supplemental foods rich in Vitamin C (for scurvy), Vitamin
A (for xeropthalmia), Vitamin D (for rickets), along with other nutrient supplements for
increased fertility <strong>and</strong> improved gestation. 18
With a traditional way of life closely in harmony with the natural world, the physical
development of North America’s first peoples were remarkably parallel to <strong>and</strong> reflective of their
social <strong>and</strong> spiritual life. It is becoming increasingly understood that man's psychological <strong>and</strong>
spiritual condition forms the essential underpinning <strong>and</strong> motivating force for the integrated
development <strong>and</strong> sustenance of his physical, mental <strong>and</strong> societal health. The body was regarded
as a temple of the spirit <strong>and</strong> upon this truth was built a rigid system of physical training, <strong>and</strong> a
social <strong>and</strong> moral code that was considered the law of life. There was aroused in children <strong>and</strong>
youth a high ideal of physical strength <strong>and</strong> beauty, the attainment of which depended on strict
self-control in eating <strong>and</strong> in sexual relations, together with severe <strong>and</strong> persistent exercise. He/she
was required to fast from time to time <strong>and</strong> to engage in hard running, swimming <strong>and</strong> vapour
bathing in sweat lodges. 19
For sheer physical endurance the indigenous peoples of the Americas were <strong>historical</strong>ly without
peer, attaining a level of vigour <strong>and</strong> strength that would put to shame the strength <strong>and</strong> power of
civilized man. The most famous runner of ancient Greece was Pheidippides whose record run
from Athens to Sparta was 140 miles in 46 hours. Seton mentions that he saw a young Cree who
on foot had just brought in dispatches from Fort Qu’ Appelle 125 miles distant in only 25 hours.
“I heard little from the traders but cool remarks like ‘a good boy,’ ‘pretty good run’. It was
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