article

A structural change in Tlingit potlatching

Western Canadian journal of anthropology • 7 (3) • Published In 1977 • Pages: 29-40

By: Tollefson, Kenneth D..

Abstract

In this article Tollefson analyses changes in Tlingit potlatching due to European and American contacts with the Tlingit. Formerly, potlatches were forums for publicly settling, recording, verifying, and ratifying political matters among autonomous localized clans. By 1912 economic influences had significantly altered the traditional culture, resulting in the disintegration of community households and the depletion of local clans in terms of membership and wealth. Consequently, clans, affiliated in the same moiety, banded together and pooled their wealth in order to continue to meet traditional potlatch expectations. This change replaced the former clan-host-guest potlatches with moiety-host-guest potlatches.

HRAF PubDate

1997

Region

North America

Sub Region

Northwest Coast and California

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ronald N. Johnson ; 1996

Field Date

1974

Coverage Date

1740-1974

Coverage Place

southeastern Alaska, United States

Notes

Kenneth D. Tollefson

Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-40)

LCCN

cn81039011

LCSH

Tlingit Indians