This robust and engaging travel narrative re-creates a remarkable adventure in the summer of 1935, when Frederica de Laguna, then in her late 20s, led a party of three other scientists down the rivers of the middle and lower Yukon valley, making a geological and archaeological reconnaissance. De Laguna has based her story on her field notes, journals, and letters home. She augments this first-hand account with excerpts from the reports of earlier explorers and data published after her trip. The result is a fascinating and informative cross-cut of historical events along the Yukon River and its tributaries. Travels Among the Dena chronicles the expedition from its outfitting in Seattle and the trip by steamer and railway to Fairbanks and Nenana, through an 80-day journey on skiffs down the Tanana and Yukon rivers to Holy Cross near the coast, with side trips on the Koyukuk, Khotol, and Innoko rivers, before a one-day return flight to Fairbanks with pioneer bush pilot Noel Wien. Maps illustrate the route taken downriver, and the author's photographs capture images of the time.
The resulting volume is both a delightful addition to the literature of travel adventure in Alaska and an important contribution to the discipline of anthropology.
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Illustrationen
Maße
Höhe: 254 mm
Breite: 178 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-295-97902-1 (9780295979021)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
List of Maps and PlansPREFACEA Note on Spelling AthabaskanTO ALASKAThe Undertaking-- On the Track of the First Americans-- The Party-- Otufitting-- Meeting in Seattle-- Freight ProblemsThe Voyage-- The U.S. Geological Survey-- Stories About the Chandalar Kutchin-- Prince William SoundExcurision to Fairbanks-- A Stop at Anchorage-- Matanuska Farmers-- The Alaska Range-- Fairbanks: The Campus Site and Ester Creek Placer Mine-- HindsightGETTING STARTEDNenana on the Tanana River-- Our First Camp-- Building the SkiffsThe Dena and Their Neighbors-- The Early Explorers and Other Sources-- Athabaskans of the Middle and Lower Yukon Valley--Neighboring Tribes and Distant Relatives--The Tanana Indians in Early ReportsThe Nenana Indians of 1935-- Friendly Visits-- Recording Myths and Other Lore-- A Wedding Feast and DanceADVENTURES ON THE LOWER TANANAAmateur Boatment-- Last Jobs and Loading the Skiffs-- Swift Waters-- Further Adventures: an Unplanned Bath-- Titus Alexander of Baker Creek-- Telegraph and Telephone in the Wilderness-- Hot Springs Slough and Hot BathsHarper Bend: The Murder of 1878-- Harper Bend-- Early Traders-- Schwatka's Version of the Murder-- Mercier's Version of the Murder-- McQuesten's Version of the Murder-- A Sequel to the MurderThe Mouth of the Tanana-- Nuklukayet or NukuloRoyet-- The Trading Grounds in 1867-- The End of the Trading GroundsTANANA MISSION AND THE YUKON ABOVETanana Mission and Town-- Tanana Mission-- A Little Ethnography-- A Little Archaeology-- The Yukon Above Tanana MissionThe Kutchin-- The Fort Yukon Indians, 1847-50-- The Fort Yukon Indians in 1867Tanana StationTHE MIDDLE YUKON: TANANA MISSION TO RUBYThe Tozi-- A Vain HuntTrading Posts in the Tanana-Tozi Area-- Nuklukayet #3: The Old Station in the 1880sFrom the Tozi to the Nowitna-- New Old Station: Mosquito Troubles-- Kalland-- The Palisades: Boneyard of the Ghosts-- The Birches: A Possible Homicide?-- Mouse PointThe Nowikakat Trading Grounds-- Zagoskin at Nowikakat, 1843-- Dall and Whymper at Nowikakat, 1867-- Nowikakat CanoesThe End of a Long DayTHE MIDDLE YUKON: RUBY TO BISHOP ROCKRuby-- Dago Kid Brown's Dog Ranch-- Rabbits-- The Melozi River-- Old Melozi-- Charley Knox's Mother-in-law from NulatoOld Louden to Bishop Rock-- Fish Camps-- Old Louden-- Captain Jacobsen at Old Louden, 1882-- Big William's Camp-- The Cave-Off Cliffs-- Galena-- Bishop Rock-- Sites Near the RockTHE KOYUKUK RIVERNear the Mouth of the Koyukuk-- Koyukuk Station-- Ethnographic Information-- Strong Headwinds and the Young Girl's CaveA Trip up the Koyukuk-- To Kateel--The Site at KateelEarly Explorations and Stories of the Koyukuk-- Zagoskin's Trip to Kateel, 1843-- Allen on the Koyukuk River, 1885-- The Wild Woman of KateelThe Koyukuk Graveyard-- The Cemetery-- Burial PracticesKoyukuk Station to Nulato-- Terentief's Station--The Dayton's Fish Camp-- A Visit to the SteamerNULATO ON THE YUKONThe Modern TownThe Nulato Massacre-- The Indians Involved-- History of the Nulato Post-- Premonitions of Trouble: The Ulukuk-- Premonitions of Trouble: The Takaiaksa-- Sanctions-- The Unfortunate Lieutenant John J. Barnard, R.N.Prelude to the Attack-- Preparations-- The Messengers to Kateel-- Reasons for the Attack-- The Role of the ShamansThe Attack--Massacre of the Nulato Indians-- Those Who Escaped-- Attack on the Russian PostAfter the Massacre-- The Relief Party-- AftermathEmpty Coffins at Nulato-- The Death of Robert Kennicott-- About a WormKALTAG AND THE KHOTOL-KAIYUH, TO SHAGELUK SLOUGHTo Kaltag-- KaltagThe Khotol River and Kaiyuh Slough-- The Kayar Region-- The Khotol River-- The Old Fish Camp-- Hrdlicka and Dixon at the Old Fish Camp-- Paul Esmailka's Place-- Above the Forks-- The Kaiyuh Country in 1865 and 1867-- Return to the YukonThe Yukon to Shageluk Slough-- Kaltag Again-- The Yukon below Kaltag-- Stink CreekHolikachuk Country-- Blackburn-- Black Bear River-- The Yukon below Blacburn IslandJOURNEY TO THE INNOKO RIVERShageluk SloughHolikachaket-- Lucky Finds-- The Holikachuk and their Neighbors-- The Several HolikachaketsMasks and Masked Dances of Holikachaket-- The Feast or Festival of MasksThe Masks-- Individual Acts or Dances-- Related or SImilar CeremoniesPrelude to TragedyTragedy-- Airplane Crashes-- Mrs. Keating-- Death-- Cause of DeathReturn to the YukonSHAGELUK SLOUGH TO ANVIK AND BONASILAAnvik Rapids and Grayling-- Anvik Rapids-- Graying River-- New Grayling-- Five Dollar Bill's PlaceAnvik-- Anvik Old Station and Anvik-- Reception at Anvik-- Questions of Religion-- The Anvik River-- Anvik River Site-- Anvik Point Village-- Anthropologists and Informants-- Good-bye to AnvikBonasila-- Old Bonasila-- The Last Camp-- New BonasilaHOLY CROSS AND HOMEWARD BOUNDHoly Cross-- The Mission-- The Gerharts-- Plans for Going Outside-- Frank Fox's Site-- WaitingNorthern Air Transport-- Noel Wien-- Flight to FairbanksFairbanks and NenanaOn the Richardson HighwayEPILOGUEAPPENDIX: Typical SpecimensSOURCESINDEX
