when you say the indigenous cultures of america dr. frank are you meaning Indian history. Surely there is precious little of that, being that the Indians had no written language. I mentioned to a friend your field and he was convinced you are into indigent studies, the study of the poor? what a silly man. please explain.
I did not see Dr. Frank mention indigenous history. Perhaps you meant someone else. I address this question in my Pacific Northwest History class over the course of an hour or two. Here's a partial outline:
Documentary Bias
Traditional historiography constructs the story based on written documents
primary, secondary, tertiary
For a period of interaction between non-literate peoples and peoples with a text-based culture, the story will be slanted towards those with texts
European culture is rooted in texts
Indigenous Americans were non-literate
Non-Literate Peoples
In non-literate cultures the spoken word is primary and fully adequate
non-literate means the culture is not print based; reading and writing are irrelevant
Do not confuse non-literate with illiterate: illiteracy is the absence of necessary reading and writing skills in a print culture
Sources of Native History
1. Orature
n.
the stories, songs, legends, histories, tales, and the like that are communicated through voice; the collective record of a non-literate culture; a compound word derived from oral literature, but deemphasizing textual epistemology
Sources of Native History
1. Orature
A. Orature proper, or “true” orature
True orature cannot be presented in a classroom. It exists only within a community of people that defines itself through stories that are voiced, rather than a society constructed through texts
Sources of Native History
1. Orature
A. Orature proper, or “true” orature
B. Orature artifacts, or records of orature
i. textual record
“The First Ship Seen by the Clatsop,” as told by Charles Cultee to Franz Boas, summer 1891, published 1894
Barbara S. Efrat and W.J. Langlois, eds., “The Contact Period as Recorded by Indian Oral Traditions,” Sound Heritage 7 (1978), 54-61.
Sources of Native History
1. Orature
A. Orature proper, or “true” orature
B. Orature artifacts, or records of orature
i. textual record
ii. sound recording
Elizabeth Wilson’s “Walla Walla Poo Story,”
13 minute audio recording.
Walla Walla Poo Story
Record your observations from Wilson’s story concerning:
hunting
traditional religious beliefs/religious change
horses
relationship to neighboring peoples
language
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
Examples of documents
journals
correspondence
archived records
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
A. documents of exploration
i. journal of George Vancouver
exercise in historical interpretation:
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
A. documents of exploration
i. journal of George Vancouver
ii. journals of Lewis and Clark
trade relations along lower Columbia
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
A. documents of exploration
B. documents of trade
i. Alexander Ross, Adventures of the First Settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River
beginnings of ethnographic description: Ross’s chapters 28-31 are among the first written descriptions of the customs of the Okanogan Peoples
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
A. documents of exploration
B. documents of trade
i. Alexander Ross, The Fur Traders of the Far West
ii. Edward Curtis’ photograph of Wishram woman
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
A. documents of exploration
B. documents of trade
C. documents of missions
i. Pierre DeSmet, maps (e.g. map of territory)
ii. Nicolas Point, sketches
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
A. documents of exploration
B. documents of trade
C. documents of missions
D. documents of non-Indian settlement
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
3. Material Culture
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
3. Material Culture
A. historical specimens
i. NW Coast architecture
ii. artifacts
cedar hat acquired by Lewis and Clark
link to Peabody Museum (Harvard)
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
3. Material Culture
A. historical specimens
B. archaeological specimens
i. The Ancient One?
link to NPS site (Kennewick Man is Native American)
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
3. Material Culture
4. Ethnography
A. classic
B. contemporary
Sources . . .
1. Orature
2. Documents
3. Material Culture
4. Ethnography
A. classic
i. notes on Vancouver’s enigmatic poles
Well, that's a bunch of boring stuff. When do we get to potlatch, teach'?
Money IS great but love has it's place!