River Song

Richard D. Scheuerman

ISBN 10: 087422327X / ISBN 13: 9780874223279

Published by Washington State University Press, US, 2015

About this Item

For generations, the original Snake River-Palouse people lived a free, open life on the Columbia Plateau, moving on horseback from the Snake River to Badger Mountain to Oregon's Blue Mountains. They interacted and intermarried within a vast region, and their stories are rich in content, interpretation, and nuance. Denied a place on their ancestral lands, most relocated to Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakama, and Colville reservations, where maintaining their cultural identity became increasingly difficult. Still, elders continued to pass down oral histories, insisting youngsters listen with rapt attention.Beginning in the 1970s, Naxiyamtáma elders--in particular Mary Jim, Andrew George, Gordon Fisher, and Emily Peone--shared their stories with a research team. They hoped to teach American Indian history in a traditional manner and refute incorrect versions. Multiple themes emerged--a pervasive spirituality tied to the Creator and environment; a covenant relationship and sacred trust to protect and preserve their traditional lands; storytelling as a revered art form that reveals life lessons; and finally, belief in cyclical time and blood memory.Tied to Plateau people's leadership families, the featured elders had lived in the traditional way--gathering, hunting, and fishing, participating in the ancient Wáshani religion, and honoring the Creator through First Food ceremonies. In their retelling, the authors endeavored to capture their original voices and stay true to Snake River-Palouse oral traditions. Creation stories include "Why Coyote Made the Palouse Hills," and "The Origin of Palouse Falls." Although narratives by other groups are similar to Mary Jim's "How Coyote Learned to Fish," and Gordon Fisher's "How Beaver Brought Fire to the People," their versions offer a distinct Naxiyamtáma perspective. The authors also describe their method and approach--one that will serve as a model for conducting Native American cultural research.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780874223279

Bibliographic Details

• Title: River Song
• Publisher: Washington State University Press, US
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 087422327X
• ISBN 13: 9780874223279
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Dimensions: 14.99W x 1.78H x 22.61D centimeters 14.99 centimeters width by 1.78 centimeters height by 22.61 centimeters depth
• Weight: 431 grams

About this title

Synopsis

For generations, the original Snake River-Palouse people lived a free, open life on the Columbia Plateau, moving on horseback from the Snake River to Badger Mountain to Oregon's Blue Mountains. They interacted and intermarried within a vast region, and their stories are rich in content, interpretation, and nuance. Denied a place on their ancestral lands, most relocated to Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakama, and Colville reservations, where maintaining their cultural identity became increasingly difficult. Still, elders continued to pass down oral histories, insisting youngsters listen with rapt attention.

Beginning in the 1970s, Naxiyamtáma elders--in particular Mary Jim, Andrew George, Gordon Fisher, and Emily Peone--shared their stories with a research team. They hoped to teach American Indian history in a traditional manner and refute incorrect versions. Multiple themes emerged--a pervasive spirituality tied to the Creator and environment; a covenant relationship and sacred trust to protect and preserve their traditional lands; storytelling as a revered art form that reveals life lessons; and finally, belief in cyclical time and blood memory.

Tied to Plateau people's leadership families, the featured elders had lived in the traditional way--gathering, hunting, and fishing, participating in the ancient Wáshani religion, and honoring the Creator through First Food ceremonies. In their retelling, the authors endeavored to capture their original voices and stay true to Snake River-Palouse oral traditions. Creation stories include "Why Coyote Made the Palouse Hills," and "The Origin of Palouse Falls." Although narratives by other groups are similar to Mary Jim's "How Coyote Learned to Fish," and Gordon Fisher's "How Beaver Brought Fire to the People," their versions offer a distinct Naxiyamtáma perspective. The authors also describe their method and approach--one that will serve as a model for conducting Native American cultural research.

About the Author

Richard Scheuerman is Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Seattle Pacific University.

Clifford Trafzer is the Distinguished Professor of History and Costo Chair in Native American studies at the University of California-Riverside.