Book

Under Mount Saint Elias: the history and culture of the Yakutat Tlingit

Smithsonian Institution Press; [for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.] • 7 • Published In 1972 • Pages: 3 v. [i-xxiv, 1-548 ; xxix-xli, 549-914 ; xlvii-xlix, 915-1395 ], plates

By: De Laguna, Frederica.

Abstract

This is an exhaustive ethnographic description of the Tlingit of Yakutat Bay in southeastern Alaska. Topics covered include: the natural environment; their history from 1741 onward; their traditional history; houses and settlements; travel and trade; subsistence; material culture; social structure; the life cycle; ritual and rites of passage; recreation and art; the potlatch; shamanism and witchcraft; and religion and cosmology. Also included are extensive texts, in English, of Yakutat Tlingit myths and folklore. Volume 3 contains musical scores of several traditional songs. Illustrations, maps and a photographic appendix are also included. This work is almost entirely descriptive; except for the formal organization of the chapters, De Laguna has not made any attempt at analysis or interpretation. Coverage of the topics is comprehensive and thorough, and is based on empirical data.

HRAF PubDate

1997

Region

North America

Sub Region

Northwest Coast and California

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Christopher Latham ; 1989

Field Date

6/8/49-7/13/49; 6/6/52-9/13/52; summer 1953; 2/13/54-6/16/54

Coverage Date

1741-1972

Coverage Place

Yakutat Bay, southeastern Alaska, United States

Notes

Frederica de Laguna

All texts (referred to in abstract) have been indexed for Literary Texts (539). Information on the potlatch is generally indexed for both Gift Giving (431) and Accumulation of Wealth (556).

'Recordings of Yakutat songs, with transactions of the music by David P. McAllester': v. 3, p. 1149-1373

Includes bibliographical references (v. 2, p. 904-913)

LCCN

77185631

LCSH

Tlingit Indians