Holmberg's Mistake Summary
Holmberg’s Mistake is part of the many myths of Western civilization as well as a representation of who has the power to write history. When children are in elementary school they are taught about the European colonizers as being these good people. Children are also taught at a very early age the whole us and them dichotomy however, in a subliminal way. Allan R. Homberg published a book called “Nomads of Longbow in 1952 which, discussed the Siriono population a group of Native Americans in the Beni. Mann (2007) discusses the visit to the Beni, a Bolivian province which was the size of Illinois and Indiana combined (p.1). Mann (2007) argues Homberg saw the Sirono population as uncivilized and as the least culturally advanced group (p.8). As
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However, he was wrong to assume this about Siriono, Holmberg made the Siriono look like complete savages. The death and disease that spread in their society was not because they were unchanged but truly because of smallpox and influenza (Mann, 2007, p.10). Which can arguably be seen from coming from the Europeans (Zinn, 2009, p.483). What Holmberg did not understand was there land had been shaped by somebody else. Holmberg made the biggest mistake just as the colonists did, where they saw the Native Americans as barbarians or the typical stereotype of the Nobel Savage (Mann, 2007, p.13). This shows how these images of Native Americans pass on to present day and many of the Westerners perspective about them. However, it is through education that the true knowledge about them is given. Holmberg’s Mistake can be seen as a myth and how many assumptions about the Native Americans are incorrect. Assuming and portraying Natives as this “primitive humankind” shapes Western societies thoughts on the Native Americans today. Therefore, Mann (2007) shows that Holmberg did make a mistake and that he did not take the time to actually view the Beni
However, he was wrong to assume this about Siriono, Holmberg made the Siriono look like complete savages. The death and disease that spread in their society was not because they were unchanged but truly because of smallpox and influenza (Mann, 2007, p.10). Which can arguably be seen from coming from the Europeans (Zinn, 2009, p.483). What Holmberg did not understand was there land had been shaped by somebody else. Holmberg made the biggest mistake just as the colonists did, where they saw the Native Americans as barbarians or the typical stereotype of the Nobel Savage (Mann, 2007, p.13). This shows how these images of Native Americans pass on to present day and many of the Westerners perspective about them. However, it is through education that the true knowledge about them is given. Holmberg’s Mistake can be seen as a myth and how many assumptions about the Native Americans are incorrect. Assuming and portraying Natives as this “primitive humankind” shapes Western societies thoughts on the Native Americans today. Therefore, Mann (2007) shows that Holmberg did make a mistake and that he did not take the time to actually view the Beni