article

Marie Norris's interpretations of fifty of Gatschet's Klamath chants and incantations

American Indian culture and research journal • 7 (3) • Published In 1983 • Pages: 55-63

By: Weaver, Roger.

Abstract

This article includes the texts and interpretations of 50 Klamath songs which were originally collected by Albert S. Gatschet and published in 1890. In 1979, Robert Weaver, an English professor at Oregon State University, gave a copy of the songs to an elderly Klamath women, Marie Norris, and asked her to comment on them, believing she had the experience and knowledge to shed some light on the meaning of the texts. The songs are very short, most are one or two lines, and one is four lines. Many are the songs of animals expressing a variety of sentiments including anger, shame, pride, commitment, awareness, happiness, courage, fear, sadness, and confusion. Some are conjurers' songs about power and curing. A few are philosophical, e.g., 'In the fog I am straying blind/ All over earth I am wandering.' Interpretation: 'I lack the wisdom to find my true self.'

HRAF PubDate

1998

Region

North America

Sub Region

Plains and Plateau

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Humanist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ; 1996

Field Date

1979

Coverage Date

1890-1982

Coverage Place

Klamath County, Oregon, United States

Notes

Roger Weaver

Includes bibliographical references

LCCN

78643481

LCSH

Klamath Indians