Book

Lower Chinook ethnographic notes

University of Washington7 (2) • Published In 1938 • Pages: 29-165

By: Ray, Verne Frederick.

Abstract
This document is a detailed ethnographic study of the Chinook Indians of the Lower Chinook region (lower Columbia River and Willapa Bay in Washington State), with particular emphasis on their material culture. The field work for this study was done in the summers of 1931 and 1936 along with several brief intervening periods following. Much of the information was gathered from the author's two principal informants -- Emma Millet Luscier and Mrs. Bertrand, and further supplemented by the recorded observations and commentaries of James G. Swan, Lewis and Clark, Gabriel Franchere, and the first whites to visit the Chinook around 1792 -- Gray, Boit, and Broughton. Major topics discussed in this work are: social structure (class, rank, slavery), warfare, life cycle events, the guardian spirit complex, diversions (games, gambling, smoking), trade, hunting (land and marine), fishing, foods and food preparation, domestic life, dress and ornament, and mythology.
Subjects
Hunting and trapping
Marine hunting
Fishing
Food preparation
Diet
Mats and basketry
Normal garb
Dwellings
Outbuildings
Utensils
External trade
Games
Gambling
Status, role, and prestige
Classes
Arranging a marriage
Kinship terminology
Warfare
Mythology
Puberty and initiation
Texts translated into english
culture
Chinookans of the Lower Columbia River
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
North America
Sub Region
Northwest Coast and California
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2002
Field Date
Summers of 1931, 1936
Coverage Date
ca. 1850-1936
Coverage Place
Lower Chinook region (lower Columbia River and Willapa Bay), Washington State, United States
Notes
by Verne F. Ray
Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-159)
LCCN
38028386
LCSH
Chinook Indians