The original Indian Deeds for Salem's land, can be downloaded from here, or a copy of transcriptions can be viewed below. http://www.salemdeeds.com/nativeamericandeeds/deeds_toc.aspx
Researchers' have a clearer understanding of the land deed intent between the Native Americans and early colonists. Understanding Native Americans philosophy, where as they did not believe in land ownership but rather thought of giving 'rights' of the land to the goods it produces in a season. The European colonists on the other had, as we understand, interpret a land deed to mean 'land ownership'. The Indians were not materialistic and returned to different lands by season to plant or hunt on, and this was their right.
The Natives gave 'rights' to the land, but a question remains - what kind of rights? Perhaps it is clearer now why natives gave 'rights' away for little value and to different people for the same land... not by deceit, but by the reasoning of giving 'ownership' to seasonal goods the land produced. This gives a renewed meaning to the term "Indian Giver", which has gone misunderstood for decades.
This research of the Indian Deed is not meant to debate legal matters, but to raise awareness in archeological findings... Land trade became a struggle by one party to keep a “sustainable“ land versus another party to create an “economic commodity” called land. (sound familiar :)
All of our Essex County townships have signs of early Native American heritage, by what is enjoyed, of what Mother Nature still brings. The beauties of our heritage landscapes with changing seasons continue to run rivers, streams, pools of ponds, in bloom of Spring, under changes in the Moon, and magnificent views, on elevated grounds and fields of wild berries, encountering migrating wildlife, in lifes own habitat. Children and others hike along these trails today, which by no untruth, was once the pathways of Native American culture.
Click to view transcribed Salem Deeds...
Shalom (Peace)
