article

The historical position of the Lower Chinook in the native culture of the Northwest

Pacific Northwest quarterly • 28 • Published In 1937 • Pages: 363-372

By: Ray, Verne Frederick.

Abstract

In this article Ray suggests five aspects of historical relationship between the culture of the Lower Chinook (the Chinook, Clatsop, and the Kathlamet) and the surrounding cultures particularly in reference to the tribal groups of the desert Plateau, and the Pacific Northwest coast (e.g., the Haida, Kwakiutl, and Tlingit). These five aspects are: (1) an old underllying stratum of culture extending over the whole of northwestern America, illustrated by the political unit and the territorial tie; (2) a relatively recent overlay upon this old stratum, illustrated by the institution of the potlatch; (3) the presence of comparatively old traits of foreign origin, as representative of attitudes toward rank and class; (4) the fusion of two or more foreign traits of disparate origin, as seen in the guardian spirit ceremones; and (5) the presence of foreign traits of recent introduction such as the secret societies. The major portion of this document involves the cultural comparisons of these five aspects in reference to the various ethnic societies listed above.

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

North America

Sub Region

Northwest Coast and California

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 2002

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

ca.1801-1920

Coverage Place

Lower Chinook region, southern Washington and northern Oregon, United States

Notes

Verne F. Ray

Includes bibliographical references

LCCN

08030966

LCSH

Chinook Indians