Valley of the spirits the Upper Skagit Indians of western Washington
|
"Although the Upper Skagit Indians at one time controlled the great Skagit River drainage system in northwestern Washington, relatively little has been known about them, owing to the isolation in which many of them lived. When June Collins began her field work among the Upper Skagit in 1942, many precontact religious traditions and family and kinship practices had survived. Continuing her field work at intervals over a period of twenty years, she formed strong friendships with her informants. She is therefore able to present one of the most detailed and thorough ethnographic studies ever undertaken of a Northwest Coast people. Of particular interest is the exceptionally detailed description of Upper Skagit religious life, which was characterized by a belief in guardian spirits. Basing her analysis on dozens of case studies and descriptions by informants, Collins discusses the nature of the spirits, how they were acquired by the individual, the powers they conferred, and the dances held in their honor"--Book jacket |
| Author(s): | June M. Collins |
| Document: | Book · Hardcover · CIRC [ 1 ] |
| Edition: | 1st Edition |
| Published: | 1974 |
| Physical Description: | xiii, 267 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm. |
| Genre: | |
| Contents: | Introduction: The people, their villages, and their neighbors Upper Skagit as a part of Northwest Coast Indian culture Language Local cultural and linguistic affiliations Upper Skagit villages Historical background. Prehistory Early accounts by Europeans Recent history Subsistence and technology. Fishing Hunting Plant gathering Woodworking House types Canoes Boxes and dishes Basketry Matting Weaving Skin dressing Clothing and body ornamentation Economic life. Division of labor Distribution of property Slave labor and polygyny Markets and money Real estate The work ethic and leisure Kinship and the family. The household Terminological system Sibling-sibling Parent-child Aunt/uncle-niece/nephew Grandparent-grandchild Affinal relationships Husband-wife Parent-in-law - child-in-law Sibling-in-law - sibling-in-law Parents-child's parents-in-law "Friend"-"friend" Government, warfare, and crime. Government Warfare Internal order: Civil offenses and crimes Social class and slavery The Potlatch The spirit world Lay spirits Shamanistic spirits Ownership of guardian spirits, 1942-74 Criteria of spirit ownership How spirits are acquired Winter spirit dance The shaman. Curing and killing The shaman as a ritual leader Magic, world view, and mythology. Sanctions Magic Curing with herbs Conceptions of the world Divisions of time Mythology and folklore Beliefs about animals and the physical environment Life cycle. Pregnancy and childbirth Naming Childhood Puberty Marriage Old age and death The Upper Skagit in recent times Appendix. Methods of study |
| Subjects: | Indians of North America, Indians of North America Washington (State), Peuples autochtones Washington (État), Skagit, Skagit Indians, Upper Skagit Indians Cultural processes North-west Washington (State), Washington (State) |
| Related Places: | Skagit County |
Circulation
Here are a list of places where this title can be found and the various formats it can be found in.
| Collection | Resource | Available | Edition | Published | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cascade District: Encyclopedia Library | Book | Paperback | 1st Edition | 1974 | University of Washington Press |
Last updated: 2024-05-06