article
The emergence of the micro-urban village among the Caribou-eater Chipewyan
Human organization : the journal of the Society for Applied Anthropology • 37 (1) • Published In 1978 • Pages: 38-49
By: Smith, James G. E..
Abstract
In this study, Smith examines how the change from a nomadic to sedentary way of life has impacted Caribou-Eater Chipewyan patterns of kinship and leadership. The Caribou-Eater Chipewyan were the last Chipewyan band to settle down. Historically they were minimally committed to the fur trade, maintaining a largely traditional way of life in the tundra and transitional forest of north-central Canada. The establishment of a trading post-mission complex in their territory in 1905 formed the nucleus of a future settlement. However it was not until the 1960s that the northern Chipewyan families began to live year-round in the village. Smith documents how this sedentary way of life resulted in a crisis of leadership and a weakening of kinship ties. Headmen failed to work the bureaucratic system to the satisfaction of their brethren and the broad practice of sharing among all kin impoverished families, who began to limit their generosity to only close blood relatives.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2000
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Arctic and Subarctic
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 1999
- Field Date
- 1967-1973
- Coverage Date
- 1715-1969
- Coverage Place
- north-central Canada
- Notes
- James G. E. Smith
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 48-49)
- LCCN
- 47033317
- LCSH
- Chipewyan Indians