In 1905 George Hunt; at the insistence of anthropologist Franz Boas; acquired a remarkable collection of materials from the Mowachaht band of the Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) for the American Museum of Natural History. An assemblage of 92 carved wooden figures and whales; 16 human skulls; and the small building that sheltered them; the shrine had for centuries stood in Yuquot; or Friendly Cove; on the remote west coast of Vancouver Island; visited only by chiefs and their wives. Since its removal to New York; it has been represented in anthropological and historical writings; film; television; and newspapers.In this fascinating study; Aldona Jonaitis investigates and reconstructs the history of the shrine both before and after it was acquired for the museum. Clues to the shrine’s complex history―traced to the mid-17th century―and meaning are provided by historical and anthropological writings; photographs; stories; the Hunt-Boas correspondence; and the artifacts themselves. Jonaitis addresses important contemporary issues; including the Mowachaht band’s desire to have the shrine repatriated for display in Yuquot.
#2547493 in Books 2002-12-31Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.00 x 6.00l; 1.40 #File Name: 0292743505318 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great scholarship for those passionate about Cabeza de VacaBy krebsmanAlex Krieger; historian; anthropologist and archaeologist; devoted many years of his life to the problem of Cabeza de Vaca’s route across North America. This book was the culmination of a lifetime of study. Alas; Dr. Krieger died in 1991 before his great work was completed. Fortunately; his wife Margery; with the assistance of Thomas Hester; was able to edit his papers and put together this outstanding work. There are only two primary sources for Cabeza de Vaca’s story. One is his own “Relacion†and the other is the joint report of the three white survivors of the ill-fated Narvaez expedition compiled by Gonzalo Fernando de Oviedo y Valdez and included in his “Historia general y natural de las Indias.†Krieger’s own translations of both are included as appendices in this book. The bulk of the book is taken up by Krieger’s study of Cabeza de Vaca’s journey; in which he lays out the route he believes the four men took in crossing the continent from Galveston Island to the Gulf of Coronado. He logically states his reasons why he supports this route and refutes the proposed routes of previous scholars. Several different routes have been proposed over the centuries. (Some of Krieger’s predecessors had Cabeza de Vaca and company making their way up to northern New Mexico!) He seems to be the only scholar who has actually attempted to retrace that route. As a result; he uncovers some shocking misconceptions. For example; his predecessors and one famous atlas state that there is a mountain in south Texas; where none exists! It seems impossible to believe that such mistakes could pass unnoticed in the 20th Century; but that seems to have indeed been the case! Krieger’s proposed route snakes across the Rio Grande several times before turning westward at around the place where Banderas; Texas is now. Thomas Hester; in his afterword written in 2002 offers reviews of works on the subect that were published after Krieger’s death that also basically support Krieger’s hypothesis. This is a book for those with a passionate interest in Cabeza de Vaca (of which I am one.) Someone who is only just learning about him may be bored because Krieger goes into a lot of detail and argues small points that may not be apparent on casual reading. I found this book outstanding and consider it mandatory for those who are seriously interested in Cabeza de Vaca and the early Spanish exploration of the New World. Five stars!9 of 10 people found the following review helpful. The Travels of Cabeza de VacaBy SmallchiefThe Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca and three companions survived eight years (1528-1536) among the Indians of North America and made the first overland crossing of the continent. Cabeza de Vaca's route across the U.S and Mexico has been the subject of many impassioned scholarly examinations. Alex and Margery Krieger's is one of the best.The book consists of a forward; an updated version of Alex Krieger's 1955 dissertation on Cabeza de Vaca's route; an afterword; and translations of the two accounts of the journey; one by CDV himself and the second by a 16th century historian. Thus; in this one not-overly-formidable tome is the complete story of Cabeza de Vaca.The controversy about CDV is whether he followed a northern route primarily through Texas or a southern route primarily through Mexico in his wanderings from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of California. Sorry Texas! Krieger persuades me that the evidence in favor of the Mexican route is overwhelming.CDV's narrative is important because it is among the first -- and sometimes the only -- description of Indian societies in Florida; Texas; and Mexico. Most of his time was spent among the primitive hunting-gathering Coahuiltecan Indians of the Texas and Mexican coast. These people have disappeared from history with hardly a trace; destroyed by disease and Spanish conquest. Another interesting and important part of the narrative is CDVs account of Spanish slave-hunters in northern Mexico. We have very few accounts of the North American Indians before their cultures and societies were destroyed by Europeans. Cabeza de Vaca's is one of the most important and informative.Smallchief
