كان فيلهيلمور ستيفانسون مستكشفًا وأنثروبولوجيًا رائدًا في المناطق القطبية الشمالية، أحدث ثورة في فهمنا للثقافات والبيئات الشمالية. من خلال عمله الميداني المكثف مع مجتمعات الإسكيمو، طور نظريات رائدة حول التغذية، والبقاء على قيد الحياة في الظروف القاسية، والتكيف الثقافي التي لا تزال ذات صلة بالصحة والطب حتى اليوم. تقدم تجاربه المثيرة للجدل حول النظام الغذائي عالي الدهون والقائم على اللحوم فقط، وتوثيقه لممارسات الإسكيمو الصحية التقليدية، رؤى قيمة حول مرونة الإنسان والنهج البديلة للصحة.

فيلهيلمور ستيفانسون: المستكشف القطبي الذي أحدث ثورة في فهمنا للصحة والثقافة

جدول المحتويات

• الخلفية والحياة المبكرة
• التعليم والسنوات التكوينية
• البعثات القطبية الشمالية ومناهج البحث
• العلاقات الشخصية والعائلة
• نظريات التغذية والصحة
• الإسهامات الرئيسية والإرث
• الحياة اللاحقة والسنوات الأخيرة
• معلومات المصدر

الخلفية والحياة المبكرة

وُلد فيلهيلمور ستيفانسون في 3 نوفمبر 1879، في مستوطنة أرنيس الكندية الأيسلندية على الشاطئ الغربي لبحيرة وينيبيغ. كانت هذه المنطقة، التي أصبحت الآن جزءًا من مانيتوبا، تُعرف آنذاك باسم "أيسلندا الجديدة". كان والداه، يوهان ستيفانسون وإنغيبورغ يوهانسدوتير، مع أشقائه الأربعة الأكبر سنًا، من بين 250 مهاجرًا من أيسلندا استقروا هناك في عام 1876.

كان فيلهيلمور أول من وُلد في عائلته في العالم الجديد. عُمِّد باسم ويليام ستيفنسون، على الرغم أن عائلته الناطقة بالأيسلندية كانت دائمًا تناديه فيلهيلمور أو فيلي. تبنى رسميًا الشكل الأيسلندي لاسمه عندما كان في العشرين من عمره، مما يعكس ارتباطه القوي بتراثه.

بعد عام من ولادة فيلي، عانت أيسلندا الجديدة من فيضانات مدمرة ومجاعة وأمراض أودت بحياة طفلين من عائلة ستيفانسون. انتقلت العائلة إلى الولايات المتحدة، حيث أُقيم مجتمع أيسلندي آخر في مقاطعة بيمينا، إقليم داكوتا (شمال داكوتا حاليًا). ساهمت هذه التجربة المبكرة مع الصعوبات والتكيف لاحقًا في أبحاثه حول بقاء الإنسان في البيئات القاسية.

تعلم فيلي اللغة الإنجليزية في المدرسة، التي كان يحضرها بضعة أشهر فقط كل عام. تلقى معظم تعليمه من والده، الذي عرّفه على كلاسيكيات الأدب الأيسلندي والعالمي، وكذلك على الفكر المتحرر في الدين والسياسة. كان يوهان ستيفانسون لوثريًا "حداثيًا" يعتقد أن الكنيسة يجب أن تدمج المعرفة الجديدة، مثل نظرية التطور.

بعد وفاة والده في عام 1892، ذهب فيلهيلمور للعيش في مزرعة أخته الكبرى وزوجها. في أواخر سن المراهقة، عمل كراعٍ للماشية والخيول، مما طور مهاراته الأساسية في الصيد، والعيش في الهواء الطلق، والبقاء على قيد الحياة في المناخات الباردة التي أثبتت قيمتها خلال بعثاته القطبية الشمالية.

التعليم والسنوات التكوينية

بحلول عام 1898، ادخر ستيفانسون ما يكفي من المال للالتحاق بالقسم التمهيدي في جامعة نورث داكوتا في غراند فوركس. كان متحمسًا للمشاركة في المناقشات الفكرية، لكنه وجد المنهج الدراسي وطرق التدريس قديمة بشكل مخيب للآمال. جعلته آراؤه المتحررة غير مرغوب فيه في المجتمع الأيسلندي المحافظ في غراند فوركس - فقد طُرِد من مسكنه وفُصِل من وظيفته بدوام جزئي لتحدثه بإعجاب عن داروين وتكرار انتقادات والده للوثرية ميسوري ساينود.

على الرغم من أنه كان أكثر سعادة في الجامعة نفسها، استمر في تحدي سلطة الكلية وطُرِد في عام 1902 بسبب إظهاره "روح التمرد والتحدي". عمل كمراسل للصحيفة الديمقراطية في غراند فوركس، البلاينديلر، بل ترشح لمنصب المشرف على التعليم العام في الولاية كاحتجاج على سلطات الجامعة. في العام التالي، التحق بجامعة آيوا، وتخرج في عام 1903.

كان أول اتصال لستيفانسون بالتوحيدية في عام 1900 عندما كان طالبًا في جامعة نورث داكوتا. كان العديد من المهاجرين الأيسلنديين إلى كندا والولايات المتحدة لوثريين متحررين، وقد بدأ بعضهم يطلق على نفسه اسم التوحيديين. لاحظ التوحيديون الأيسلنديون، الذين كانوا يبحثون عن شباب واعدين لدراسة الوزارة، ستيفانسون وموّلوه لتمثيلهم في المؤتمر الدولي للأديان المتحررة في بوسطن في عام 1900.

أثناء وجوده في بوسطن، التقى بقادة التوحيدية بما في ذلك ويليام والاس فين وصموئيل أتكينز إليوت. ونتيجة لذلك، عُرضت عليه منحة لدراسة الوزارة التوحيدية في كلية هارفارد اللاهوتية. قبلها على أساس أنه سيدرس الدين "كفرع من الأنثروبولوجيا" وسيفكر في الوزارة لكنه لن يلتزم بها.

درس ستيفانسون في كلية اللاهوت لمدة عام واحد، 1903-1904. بعد ما يقرب من ستة عقود، كتب أن هذا العام "كان له تأثير أكبر على الاتجاه المستقبلي لمسيرتي من أي وقت قضيته في نورث داكوتا أو آيوا، أو في كلية هارفارد للدراسات العليا". تأثر بشكل خاص بصموئيل ماكورد كروذرز، الذي دعا إلى "عدم التعلم"، أو تبني موقف متشكك تجاه المعرفة المتلقاة.

في عام 1904، انتقل ستيفانسون من كلية اللاهوت إلى متحف بيبودي كطالب دراسات عليا في الأنثروبولوجيا. كتب: "إن فكرة إصلاح المسيحية من الداخل... استحوذت على اهتمامي بشدة كحجة للانضمام إلى الوزارة التوحيدية، لكن في النهاية قررت لصالح الأنثروبولوجيا، مع تحفظ عقلي بأنها ستكون أنثروبولوجيا إنسانية."

البعثات القطبية الشمالية ومناهج البحث

قضى ستيفانسون صيفي عامي 1904 و1905 في أيسلندا كأنثروبولوجي فيزيائي، يدرس تأثير النظام الغذائي على تسوس الأسنان - وهي بداية لاهتمام طويل الأمد بالتغذية والصحة. أثر هذا البحث المبكر لاحقًا على نظرياته المثيرة للجدل حول التغذية البشرية والوقاية من الأمراض.

في عام 1906، أوصت جامعة هارفارد به كأنثروبولوجي للبعثة القطبية الأنجلو-أمريكية. عندما فشل المستكشفون في اللقاء معه على الساحل القطبي الشمالي، استخدم الرحلة كمرحلة تدريبية. سعى إلى寻找 مرشدين من بين الإسكيمو، ودرس اللغة، وصقل مهاراته في البقاء على قيد الحياة في الطقس البارد. عقد العزم على تنظيم بعثته الخاصة التي تركز على الأنثروبولوجيا، بخطة للانغماس في ثقافة الإسكيمو، دون أخذ إمدادات ولكن العيش على الأرض كما فعل الإسكيمو.

عاد ستيفانسون إلى نيويورك في عام 1907 واستقر في غرينتش فيليدج، والتي كانت منزله لأكثر من 40 عامًا عندما لم يكن في القطب الشمالي. رتّب لمتحف التاريخ الطبيعي الأمريكي لرعايته في رحلة استكشافية مشتركة مع زميله في جامعة آيوا، عالم الحيوان رودولف أندرسون.

تطلبت طريقتهم "الانغماس الكلي" أن يكرسوا معظم وقتهم وطاقتهم للبقاء على قيد الحياة يوميًا، وهو ما كان أكثر ملاءمة للبحث الأنثروبولوجي منه لعلم الحيوان. في بعض الأحيان، اضطروا إلى أكل لسان حوت عمره 4 سنوات، وأوراق الشاي، وريش الطيهوج، وأربطة أحذية الثلوج، وحتى عينات التاريخ الطبيعي التي جمعوها. بقي ستيفانسون وأندرسون في القطب الشمالي لمدة أربع سنوات، من 1908 إلى 1912.

بين عامي 1906 و1918، ذهب ستيفانسون في ثلاث بعثات إلى القطب الشمالي في ألاسكا وكندا، استمرت كل منها بين ستة عشر شهرًا وخمس سنوات. نشر حوالي 24 كتابًا وأكثر من 400 مقالة عن رحلاته وملاحظاته. ركز عمله الأنثروبولوجي بشكل خاص على دين وثقافة الإسكيمو، ويُعتبر رائدًا في منهج "المشارك-المراقب" في العمل الميداني الأنثروبولوجي.

عاد ستيفانسون وأندرسون إلى القطب الشمالي كقائدين مشاركين للبعثة الكندية للقطب الشمالي من 1913 إلى 1918. تضمنت هذه المغامرة المعقدة 15 عالماً، وثلاث سفن وطواقمها، لكنها عانت من الخلافات وأسئلة حول قيادة ستيفانسون. في عام 1914، غرقت إحدى سفن البعثة، كارلوك، مما تسبب في وفاة 11 شخصًا ومشقات كبيرة للناجين - لكن ليس لستيفانسون، الذي كان بعيدًا في رحلة صيد عندما فقدت السفينة.

العلاقات الشخصية والعائلة

خلال بعثته الأولى، وعلى الرغم من كونه مخطوبًا لشابة التقى بها كطالب في بوسطن، دخل ستيفانسون في علاقة حميمة مع امرأة من الإسكيمو تدعى فاني بانيجابلوك. تكشف مذكراته أن "بان"، كما كان يدعوها، كانت حاسمة لنجاح بحثه الأنثروبولوجي وكذلك لبقائه الجسدي، على الرغم من أنه بالكاد ذكرها في كتاباته المنشورة.

وُلد ابنهما، أليكس ستيفانسون، في عام 1910. كان وضع عائلة ستيفانسون من الإسكيمو دائمًا غامضًا. لم يعترف أبدًا بأليكس كابنه، على الرغم من أنه دعمه ماليًا. يعتبر أحفاد ستيفانسون من الإسكيمو أن الزوجين كانا متزوجين، مشيرين إلى أن ستيفانسون لم يتزوج مرة أخرى إلا بعد وفاة بان في عام 1940. سجل المبشر الأنجليكاني الذي عمد بان وأليكس في عام 1915 أنهما زوجة وطفل ستيفانسون.

في عام 1915، اجتمع ستيفانسون مرة أخرى مع بان وأليكس، وبقيت العائلة معًا لبقية الرحلة. طور علاقة وثيقة مع ابنه خلال هذا الوقت، حيث علمه التحدث والقراءة والكتابة باللغة الإنجليزية، وفكر في أخذ أليكس معه عندما غادر القطب الشمالي. استذكر ذكرياته عن أليكس في سلسلة من كتب الأطفال التي شارك في كتابتها في عشرينيات القرن العشرين، notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably notably 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نظرياته الغذائية، على الرغم من كونها مثيرة للجدل خلال حياته، اكتسبت اهتمامًا متجددًا في السنوات الأخيرة مع انتشار الحميات الكيتونية والحمية البدائية. بدأت الأبحاث الحديثة في التحقق من بعض ملاحظاته حول التأثيرات الأيضية للحميات منخفضة الكربوهيدرات وعالية الدهون، خاصةً بالنسبة لبعض فئات المرضى.

الإسهامات الرئيسية والإرث

خلال عشرينيات وثلاثينيات القرن الماضي، وبصفته "سفير الشمال" المعين ذاتيًا، ألقى ستيفانسون محاضرات حول أهمية المنطقة القطبية وكتب أكثر كتبه تأثيرًا، "القطب الشمالي الودود" (1921) و"المسار الشمالي للإمبراطورية" (1922). كانت رسالته متناقضة إلى حد ما: دافع عن طرق الإنويت التقليدية بينما حث الحكومات والشركات على استغلال الإمكانات الاقتصادية والاستراتيجية للقطب الشمالي.

رأى القطب الشمالي كمفترق طرق العالم، "محور تشع منه محيطات وقارات العالم الأخرى كأشعة العجلة." ادعاؤه بأن القطب الشمالي بيئة "ودودة" لا تشكل تهديدًا لأي شخص يقترب منها بذكاء، كان مسيئًا بشدة للناجين من البعثة الكندية إلى القطب الشمالي الذين عانوا بشدة.

بعد استئناف جنسيته الكندية في عام 1913، حاول ستيفانسون خلال أوائل العشرينيات إثارة اهتمام الشعب والحكومة الكنديين بمواردهم الشمالية. في 1919-1920، خدم في لجنة برلمانية حول التنمية الشمالية وسافر إلى إنجلترا للترويج لمزيد من الاستكشاف لإثبات السيادة على الجزر القطبية.

عندما تأخرت الحكومة في تنفيذ أفكاره، تصرف بمفرده بنتائج كارثية. فشلت خطة تربية ثيران المسك من أجل الصوف؛ وانتهت مغامرة تربية الرنة في جزيرة بافن بالإفلاس؛ وأدت بعثة خاصة لاستعمار جزيرة رانجل، قبالة ساحل سيبيريا، إلى عدة وفيات وحادثة دولية شملت الولايات المتحدة والمملكة المتحدة والاتحاد السوفيتي.

خلال جولات المحاضرات في العشرينيات، بدأ ستيفانسون في جمع الكتب والمخطوطات حول المناطق القطبية. بحلول عام 1930، احتوت المجموعة على 10,000 مادة وتحولت من هواية إلى "مؤسسة شبه عامة." استأجر شقة ثانية لإيواء المجموعة واستأجر أمناء مكتبات لتصنيفها والإجابة على أسئلة البحث.

خلال الثلاثينيات، قدم المشورة حول خدمة الخطوط الجوية بين الولايات المتحدة وأوروبا عبر طريق "الدائرة الكبرى" باستخدام مطارات في لابرادور وغرينلاند وآيسلندا. بدءًا من عام 1935، كلفت حكومة الولايات المتحدة ستيفانسون وطاقمه بإعداد ببليوغرافيا للمعلومات حول القطب الشمالي، ودليل بقاء في القطب للجيش، وتقارير عن الظروف في ألاسكا لسلاح الجو.

الحياة اللاحقة والسنوات الأخيرة

خلال الحرب العالمية الثانية، أنشأ ستيفانسون مركزًا لدراسات القطب الشمالي للجيش الأمريكي، واستشار حول طريق ألاسكا السريع وإمداد النفط الكندي إلى ألاسكا، وقام بمسح محطات الأرصاد الجوية في كيبيك و لابرادور، وكتب كتابًا عن الملاحة في القطب الشمالي، ودرّب أفرادًا للظروف الشتوية والجبلية، وذهب في جولة لجمع المعلومات حول عمليات سلاح الجو في جزر ألوشيان.

بعد الحرب، كلفه مكتب البحوث البحرية بإعداد "موسوعة القطب الشمالي" في 20 مجلدًا. في عام 1949، ومع عدم اكتمال المشروع، ألغت البحرية العقد، مما أجبره على تسريح معظم طاقمه. لم يتم تقديم أي تفسير، لكن ستيفانسون اعتقد أنه خلال الحرب الباردة، أصبحت الحكومة قلقة من تمويل مشروع يتطلب التعاون مع الاتحاد السوفيتي، واستخدام مصادر باللغة الروسية، وتوظيف مترجمين روس.

في عام 1951، نقل ستيفانسون مكتبته إلى كلية دارتموث في هانوفر، نيو هامبشاير. في العام التالي، اشترى خريج دارتموث مجموعة ستيفانسون للكلية. استقر ستيفانسون في هانوفر، مع عمل إيفلين أمينة مكتبة لمجموعة ستيفانسون. عمل ستيفانسون، الذي تجاوز السبعين بالفعل، كأستاذ فخري متقاعد، يكتب ويحاضر ويخدم كمرشد للطلاب في مركز الدراسات الشمالية.

بعد وقت قصير من وصوله إلى نيو هامبشاير، تم استجواب ستيفانسون من قبل النائب العام للولاية حول تعاطفه مع الشيوعية. في سيرته الذاتية، قدم ستيفانسون التحقيق على أنه تافه، على الرغم من تعاطفه الطويل مع الشيوعية والاتحاد السوفيتي. كان منجذبًا إلى مثالية الملكية الجماعية منذ أيامه بين الإنويت وفي كلية هارفارد اللاهوتية، حيث قال "اعتبروا يسوع شيوعيًا."

عانى ستيفانسون من سكتة دماغية طفيفة في عام 1952 وأخرى أكثر خطورة في عام 1958. بعد سكتته الدماغية الثانية، تولت إيفلين واجباته التدريسية، على الرغم من استمراره في إرشاد الطلاب. خلال سنواته الأخيرة، كتب سيرته الذاتية، "اكتشاف" (1964)، والتي تختتم بتأملات حول الدين.

أعزى سنته في كلية هارفارد اللاهوتية إلى منحه الأدوات التي يحتاجها لفهم دين الإنويت وإظهار أنه يمكنه التخلص من أفكاره الطفولية عن الله دون أن يصبح ملحدًا. في حياته البالغة، اعتبر نفسه لاأدريًا: "أفضل أن أعتقد أن اللاأدرية هي الإيمان المتواضع الوحيد." على الرغم من عدم انتظامه في حضور الكنيسة بعد أيامه الطلابية في هارفارد، بقي مرتبطًا بالجمعية الوحدانية الأمريكية.

توفي ستيفانسون بسكتة دماغية بعد وقت قصير من إكمال سيرته الذاتية. لبعض الوقت، تم تذكره مجرد كبقية أخيرة من العصر البطولي لاستكشاف القطب، ولكن في السنوات الأخيرة، تم تكريمه كرائد للنهج متعدد التخصصات والدولي لدراسة المناطق القطبية.

معهد دراسات القطب الشمالي، الذي أنشئ في كلية دارتموث في عام 1989، يأخذ شعارًا له اقتباس من "المسار الشمالي للإمبراطورية": "لا يوجد حدود شمالية لا يمكن أن تتجاوزها المشاريع المنتجة حتى يلتقي الشمال بالشمال على الشاطئ المقابل للمحيط المتجمد الشمالي." يقدم المعهد زمالة ستيفانسون لدعم العمل الميداني في القطب الشمالي. في عام 1998، تم إنشاء معهد ستيفانسون للقطب الشمالي في أكوريري، آيسلندا.

معلومات المصدر

عنوان المقال الأصلي: فيلهيلمور ستيفانسون
المؤلفون: فيلهيلمور ستيفانسون
محتوى إضافي: إرث فيلهيلمور ستيفانسون، بقلم جيسلي بالسون
تفاصيل النشر: معهد ستيفانسون للقطب الشمالي
ملاحظة: هذه المقالة الملائمة للمريض مبنية على أبحاث خضعت لمراجعة الأقران وتوثيق تاريخي حول حياة فيلهيلمور ستيفانسون وإسهاماته في علم الإنسان والاستكشاف والعلوم الغذائية.