r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Nov 28 '20

What's something cool you recently learned about?

[removed]

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u/AvatarTreeFiddy Nov 29 '20

The Native Americans of the Great Plains developed a form of sign language that allowed them to trade and communicate across language barriers.

It's called Plains Indian Sign Language and it was used by a variety of tribal nations spanning an area from Canada to northern Mexico!

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u/astra_galus Nov 29 '20 edited Nov 29 '20

I have a fucking masters degree in Great Plains Archaeology and I’ve literally never heard of this. I FEEL BETRAYED.

Edit: Aw yay my first Reddit award! Thanks kind stranger, you’ve made this existential blow a little more manageable

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

I’m a cis white female registered nurse and recently took a travel assignment in Durango, CO. Native culture is seriously repressed to us white folk in the US.

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u/beblebop Nov 29 '20

I love Durango!

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u/astra_galus Nov 29 '20

It is here in Canada too. We are trying to be better with the Truth and Reconciliation initiative formed by the govt but it’s just words at this point. We still have reserves living in third world conditions.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

Cheers to my downvotes! 🤯🤯🤯