Rh Negative Tribes: The Walsers – Part II

Back in 2005, the Time magazine published a piece on ‘Lost Tribes in Europe’. One of those ‘lost’ tribes were the Walser people. The Walser – as they’re known – are named after Wallis (Valais), a valley and canton in Switzerland.

Regions with highest rh negative percentages

Most likely because of a famin and economical crisis in the 14 century, people moved away from Wallis, going mostly south and eastwards, settling in the Eastern parts of Switzerland in Northern Italy, in Liechtenstein and in Vorarlberg (the western most province of Austria) and in one instance in Tyrol (Austria).

What set the Walser apart from other ‘tribes’ was that they more often than not opted to settle in areas where nobody else would go in return for freedom and non-obligation to fight during war times for the local authorities.

That Walser spirit remains until today, with Walser people being hard working, preferably working by themselves, remaining in the harsher environments of the countries and speaking the Walser dialect, which most German speaking people struggle to understand.While on tour we’ll visit the local museum, housed in a 500 year old Walser building. Elisabeth, Patrick’s mother and the cultural queen of the Grosses Walsertal, will take guests on a journey with her stories on life in ‘extreme conditions’.

The dialect is very interesting in that Walser people may not speak the same offical language, however, when the speak in their dialect, they’re able to convers with each other. Every three years the Walser communities come together in another Walser village to celebrate their history, culture and traditions – and the dialect is a big part of it.

Rhone Valley, Switzerland: Home to the Rh Negative Walsers

Full article:

https://www.austrianalpsactive.com.au/walser-people