Chapter 27:

Pacific Northwest to Artic: Native American Encounter

A slide set supporting Humanities 103 and Gloria Fiero’s The Humanistic Tradition

Instructor Beth Camp, LBCC, Spring 2006

campb@ml.linnbenton.edu

Introduction As we look at selected slides from Artic,

Alaskan, Canadian and Pacific Northwest tribal cultures, ask: How do these images reinforce or

contradict the romantic pictures painted by Catlin in Chapter 27?

Click on the SOUND ICONS throughout for a little extra background.

What are the origins? Berengia (Bering

Strait) between 10,000 to 5,000 years ago Dorset

culture (800 BCE)

Thule culture (1000 CE)

Map Image from: Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center

Dorset maskc. 500 BCE Hundreds of

animal and human figures

Ivory, bone, stone

Petroglyphs Magico-religious

shaman-artists Fertility figures Some ritually

“killed”

Flying Bear, Dorset c. 800 BCE

Four key elements of native American culture:

The mask The dance The song The story

The Mask

ContemporaryArtic MaskFairbanks, Alaska

Source: University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Northwest Coast Masks are hidden until used in

ceremony Creatures come from four

domains: sky world, mortal world, undersea world, spirit world

Potlatch ritual from “beginning of time”

Raven Transformation MaskPacific Northwest

Source: Seattle Art Museum

The Dance Chilkat Dancer

Charles Jimmie, Sr. Raven’s Fort, Haines, Alaska

This Chilkat shawl was designed by men, woven by women, and worn by tribal elders at important rituals or clan gatherings.

Contemporary Fan Dance, Kodiak Dancers, Fairbanks, Alaska

‘Ksan Historical Village

‘Ksan Historical Village preserves artifacts, ancient ways, and revives and passes on Gitksan art and culture

Gitsan people of the Skeena, British Columbia share language roots with Tsimshian people and have 4 clans: the Wolf, Fireweed, Frog and Eagle

Frog Clan, ‘Ksan

The StoryNatar Ungalaq

(1959- ),

Igloolik

Sedna with Hairbrush, 1985

The Story

Manasie Akpaliapik (1955- )

Respecting the Circle

Artic Whalebone carving, 1989

Types of Totems

Legend totem (cultural hero) History totem (clan history) Family Crest totem (house poles) Memorial totem (ridicule poles)

Legend or History totem?

Saxman TotemPark, Alaska

Clan Totem

Eagle Crest Pole, Alaska

‘Ksan Historical Village: Clan Totems

Clan Totem

Front wall, Chief Shakes’ Tribal House

Wrangell, Alaska, c. 1940

Family Crest (House Pole): Interior, Chief Shakes’ Tribal House, ‘Ksan

Replica of Tlingit house, Ketchican, Alaska

History Totem (Clan history) Raven Crest

Pole,Tlingit, Sitka

Memorial Totem (Ridicule pole)

Trader Legend Pole, Sitka

Clan Totem

Totem Park,Klawock, Alaskac. 1930

Contemporary Clan Totem, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

George Catlin (1796-1872) Ball-play of the

Choctaw—Ball up, 1846–50Choctaw. The game was called “little brother of war”.

Image from Smithsonian

George Catlin (1796-1872)

Stu-mick-o-súcks, Buffalo Bull's Back Fat, Head Chief, Blood Tribe, 1832Blackfoot/Kainai

Image from Smithsonian

George Catlin (1796-1872)

Pigeon's Egg Head (The Light) Going to and Returning from Washington, 1837–39Assiniboine/Nakoda

Image from Smithsonian

What’s Next? What is unique or new to you

about these native cultures? In what ways does Caitlin’s work

(Chapter 27) romanticize Native American beliefs and culture?

Have you visited the Portland Art Museum’s Native American collection?

Rattle, mid 19th century, Haida; Tsimshian Portland Art Museum: “The expressive face on this rattle is thought to represent the sun or the moon, in part because of its roundness and in part because of the raylike encircling band. Rattle consists of two halves joined together by thongs.”

Resources Postcards collected in

Canada and Alaska, Summer 1994

Seattle Art Museum, San Francisco Museum

George Catlin and His Indian Gallery, Virtual Exhibit

Peter Jensen, LBCC English Dept.