Book
The Osage and the invisible world: from the works of Francis La Flesche
University of Oklahoma Press • 217 • Published In 1995 • Pages: xiv, 323
By: La Flesche, Francis, Bailey, Garrick Alan.
Abstract
This book is concerned with the nature of Osage religion. The focus is on change and continuity in the religious life of the Osage by contrasting ethnographic information from his own fieldwork in mid-1960 to 1970s with that of Francis La Flesche, a native Omaha scholar, from 1880s. In doing so, the author was puzzled by the absence of any readily definable continuity between the traditional Osage world described by La Flesche and the Osage world of later times. He noted that the peyote religion was introduced to the Osages at the beginning of the twentieth century. A majority of the full-bloodied Osage were converted to this religion in just fifteen to ten years time. This converted abandoned traditional Osage religious beliefs and practices including most of the sacred bundles which they sold, buried, or burned. The author observed that older Osages turned their backs to the old religion and refused to discuss the past even with their children. All the formal religious institutions of the past looked devoid of the past. When turning to Osage religious ideas, concepts and beliefs, however, the author started to note continuity with the past. Much of the book is devoted to religious rituals, songs and symbols which prove this continuity.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2010
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Plains and Plateau
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem; 2010
- Field Date
- 1960-1988
- Coverage Date
- 1880-1988
- Coverage Place
- Osage Idians, USA
- Notes
- introduced and edited by Garrick A. Bailey
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 307-314) and index
- LCCN
- 95017999
- LCSH
- Osage Indians--Rites and ceremonies
- Osage Indians--Religion