article
Socio-spatial organization and decision-making processes: observations from the Chipewyan
American anthropologist • 90 • Published In 1988 • Pages: 598-618
By: Jarvenpa, Robert, Brumbach, Hetty Jo.
Abstract
This article is broadly concerned with spatial or locational principles governing hunter-gatherer society. Toward this end, the settlement-community hierarchy of the southern chipewyan Indians is interpreted as a framework for resolving the conflicting advantages and disadvantages of nucleation and dispersion, for regulating information flow, and for maintaining organizational flexibility and options in decision making. Recent ethnoarcheological research reveals a socio-spatial organization based on three recurring stages or phases: (1) concentrated summer band, (2) winter staging community, and (3) dispersed winter hunting encampment. Parallels with other Northeastern Athapaskan groups are noted, and the issue of cultural syncretism in socio-spatial forms is raised (p. 598).
- 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
- John Beierle ; 1999
- Field Date
- 1979-1981
- Coverage Date
- late nineteenth - early twentieth centuries
- Coverage Place
- Upper Churchill River area, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Notes
- Robert Jarvenpa and Hetty Jo Brumbach
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 614-618)
- LCCN
- 17015424
- LCSH
- Chipewyan Indians