Book

Social structure and social life of the Tlingit in Alaska

University of California Press26 • Published In 1967 • Pages: x, 123

By: Olson, Ronald L. (Ronald LeRoy).

Abstract
The author's objective in this ethnography was to do a '…study of the structure and functioning of the complex social life,…' (p. V-A). The range of topics covered is broad, including political organization, clan legends and property, social classes, potlatches, feuds and warfare, religion, and historical narratives of several of the clans. The book is primarily a 'memory' ethnography of the Tlingit, based on interviews with old people who could remember back to the period before 1880 or 1890, before intensive White contact. Consequently the book consists mainly of legends, tales, and the historical and semi-historical narratives of the elders as related to Olsen, who was an adopted member of the Ganaxtedi Clan of the Raven moiety.
Subjects
Traditional history
Gift giving
Literary texts
Accumulation of wealth
Ingroup antagonisms
Moieties
Revelation and divination
Organized ceremonial
culture
Tlingit
HRAF PubDate
1997
Region
North America
Sub Region
Northwest Coast and California
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Marlene Martin ; Martin Malone ; 1974
Field Date
1933-1954
Coverage Date
ca. 1880-1900
Coverage Place
southeastern Alaska, United States
Notes
by R. L. Olsen
Includes bibliographical references (p. 123)
LCCN
68002894
LCSH
Tlingit Indians