article
Notes on Micmac shamanism
Primitive man: quarterly bulletin of the Catholic Anthropological Conference • 16 • Published In 1943 • Pages: 53-80
By: Johnson, Frederick.
Abstract
The material for this paper was gathered by the author, a well known professional anthropologist, during several field trips to the Micmac reservations in Nova Scotia for the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, New York City. The data contained in this source were obtained primarily from native informants who had in their own lifetimes either seen or participated invarious Shamanistic performances. In addition to material on the Shaman, his powers, rituals, spirit helpers, etc., there is also information to be found in this source on sorcery, the position of the Shaman in the native social order, socio-cultural changes in the Shamanistic complex, distribution of various aspects of Shamanism among neighboring tribes, spirit possession, dreams and their relationship to Shamanistic power, sacred objects used by the Shamans, and curing ceremonies. Much of the material in this source, however, deals with the Micmac Shaman in his magico-religious relationship to the society, rather than in the curing aspects of his occupation.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2010
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Eastern Woodlands
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; 1962: John Beierle; 2009
- Field Date
- 1930-31
- Coverage Date
- 1930-1931
- Coverage Place
- Nova Scotia, Eastern Canada
- Notes
- Frederick Johnson
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 80)
- LCCN
- 99111903
- LCSH
- Micmac Indians