Natives of the far North : Alaska's vanishing culture in the eye of Edward Sheriff Curtis
Title:
Natives of the far North : Alaska's vanishing culture in the eye of Edward Sheriff Curtis
JLCTITLE245:
by Shannon Lowry ; photos by Edward S. Curtis.
Personal Author:
Publication Information:
Mechanicsburg, PA : Stackpole Books, ©1994.
Physical Description:
xi, 139 pages : illustrations, map ; 29 cm
ISBN:
9780811711029
Abstract:
A collection not only of Curtis' romantic photographs of Aleutian Indians, but also of the folktales and stories Curtis gathered during the 30 years he chronicled Native Americans and their cultures. By today's standards of anthropology, Curtis' images are flawed in that they are more artistic than realistic, yet they are no less intriguing, especially in light of the fact that Curtis died penniless in pursuit of his vision. Lowry puts the numerous b&w portraits and village scenes into historical context, discussing modern research on the Aleutian peoples. Lacks an index.
Bibliography Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 137-139).
Personal Subject:
Added Author:
Contents:
Edward Sheriff Curtis: Man behind the camera -- Nunivak Island -- Customs: Life and death among the Nunivak -- Ceremonies: Keeping the fragile balance -- Legends: Monster serpents and cannibal dwarfs -- King Island -- Traditional life: Foretelling of Christ the King -- Legends: Tall tales of land and sea -- Diomede Islands -- Traditional life: Where women honored whales -- Customs: Pact of survival between young and old -- Legends: Manina the Medicine Man -- Legends: Mysterious whereabouts of departed souls -- Kingigan -- Traditional life: Ancient link between East and West -- Legends: Of wales and men, and intermarriage with polar bears -- Epilogue: Restoring balance in an unbalanced world.