Preserving and sharing native knowledge
Besides angling and cast netting, as described in an earlier article on this website, mid-sized fish are also caught with pole spears in the fast-flowing waters of the Perak rainforests. Together with Shaik Reismann, I spent time with the Temiar Orang Asli people and learned a variety of bushcraft techniques from them. Pole spear fishing [ ] The post Traditional Pole Spear Fishing with the Temiar…
Who are the Ute Indians? The Ute (historically self-identified as Noochew) are the oldest continuous residents of the present-day Colorado region. Historically, their territory spanned across the southern Rocky Mountains, encompassing portions of modern Colorado, Utah, northern New Mexico, and southern Wyoming. Unlike the plains-dwelling tribes who relied primarily on large-scale nomadic bison…
Description of the location My friend, Shaik Reismann, and I visited Kampung Yum in Perak state, Malaysia, to learn from the Temiar Orang Asli people s traditional junglecraft skills and knowledge. Shaik himself also serves as the junglecraft trainer for the Community Rangers (Renjer Komuniti) of the RIMAU NGO, which specializes in preserving and protecting the [ ] The post Fishing for Copper…
When we headed to the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, we worried about the obvious threats: saltwater crocodiles, box jellyfish, and the massive 10- to 12-meter tides. While walking with Terry Hunter on an exposed reef, we became aware, however, that a grave hazard lay stationary in the shallow waters. Terry is a highly experienced [ ] The post Hidden blades at the Kimberley coast: Low-tide…
The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is slightly larger than the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), and he modifies its environment to a higher degree than almost any other mammalian species in North America. These alterations change water chemistry, local hydrology, and vegetation structure across riparian zones (Nelner Hood, 2011). Because beavers are primarily nocturnal [ ] The post…
When hiking across the rocky expanses of the American Southwest, it is very likely to walk through pinyon-juniper woodlands. The pinyon pine (Pinus edulis or Pinus monophylla) in these woodlands looks like a humble, twisted little tree struggling to survive in a harsh environment. But this tree is of by far higher value than it [ ] The post Pinyon Pine The Tree of Life for the Ute Indians appeared…
When we talk about wilderness survival and emergency shelters, we usually think of debris huts, tarp configurations, or lean-tos. But if you want to look at one of the greatest large-scale survival construction feats in North American history, you must look back to December 1777. When General George Washington’s Continental Army marched into Valley Forge, [ ] The post Decoding the Valley Forge Log…
This is the third and final installment of our series on ancient weapon technology. After exploring the global history (Part 1) and mechanical anatomy (Part 2) of the atlatl, we now dive into the bio-mechanics of the launch sequence, calculate its kinetic energy, and examine its real-world hunting capabilities. The Atlatl Launch Sequence: A Step-by-Step [ ] The post Atlatl Mechanics: Launch…
This is the second installment of our three-part series on ancient weapon technology. While part one explored global history, this article breaks down the engineering, dimensions, and parts of traditional North American atlatls and darts. Part three will cover launching mechanics and modern survival applications. Anatomy of the Atlatl Throwing Stick A traditional atlatl is [ ] The post Atlatl…
This is the first installment of our three-part series on atlatl weapon technology. In this article, we explore the global history of the atlatl. Part two breaks down atlatl components and design, and part three covers launching techniques and historical applications. What is an Atlatl and How Does It Work? An atlatl (pronounced at-lat-uhl) is [ ] The post The History of the Atlatl: Humanity s…