article
Culture loss and culture change among the Micmac of the Canadian Maritime Provinces 1912-1950
Kroeber Anthropological Society papers • (8) • Published In 1953 • Pages: 100-129
By: Wallis, Wilson D. (Wilson Dallam), Wallis, Ruth Sawtell.
Abstract
This paper was written in an attempt to study the extensiveness of culture loss in Micmac society over a period of thirty-eight years, from the time the author first studied these people in 1911-1912 to his second field trip to the Micmac in 1950. The author further hoped to be able to supplement the description of the old culture and folktales given him in 1911-1912 by his informants by additional material, and to assess some of the changes in material life, general orientation, drives and motivation which have evolved in the society during this period. The field work was carried out at the communities of Burnt Church, New Brunswick and Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. This source provides abundant data on various aspects of acculturation, and shows clearly how some of the elements of the traditional culture which were at least remembered by the author's older informants at the time of his first visit, now have become completely lost (e.g., canoe building, birch bark wigwam construction), or have been modified to a considerable extent through the process of acculturation.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2010
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Eastern Woodlands
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; 1964: John Beierle; 2009
- Field Date
- 1911-1912, 1950
- Coverage Date
- 1534-1950
- Coverage Place
- Maritime Provinces, Eastern Canada
- Notes
- Wilson D. Wallis and Ruth Sawtell Wallis
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 128-129)
- LCCN
- 54036266
- LCSH
- Micmac Indians