Crow Is My Boss
The Oral Life History of a Tanacross Athabaskan Elder
Published on 30. April 2005
Book
Hardback
278 pages
978-0-8061-3659-2 (ISBN)
Description
Born in 1922, Kenny Thomas Sr. has been a trapper, firefighter, road builder, river-freight hauler, and soldier. Today he is a respected elder and member of a northern Athabaskan tribal group residing in Tanacross, Alaska. As a song and dance leader for the Tanacross community, Thomas has been teaching village traditions at an annual culture camp for more than twenty years. Over a three-year period, folklorist Craig Mishler conducted a series of interviews with Thomas about his life experiences. Crow Is My Boss is the fascinating result of this collaboration.
Written in a style that reflects the dialogue between Thomas and Mishler, Crow Is My Boss retains the authenticity of Thomas's voice, capturing his honesty and humor. Thomas reveals biographical details, performs and explains traditional folktales and the potlatch tradition, and discusses ghosts and medicine people. One folktale is presented in both English and Tanacross, Thomas's native language. A compelling personal story, Crow Is My Boss provides insight into the traditional and contemporary culture of Tanacross Athabaskans in Alaska.
Written in a style that reflects the dialogue between Thomas and Mishler, Crow Is My Boss retains the authenticity of Thomas's voice, capturing his honesty and humor. Thomas reveals biographical details, performs and explains traditional folktales and the potlatch tradition, and discusses ghosts and medicine people. One folktale is presented in both English and Tanacross, Thomas's native language. A compelling personal story, Crow Is My Boss provides insight into the traditional and contemporary culture of Tanacross Athabaskans in Alaska.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oklahoma
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
33 black & white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
591 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8061-3659-2 (9780806136592)
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 Classification
Persons
Kenny Thomas Sr. is an elder living in Tanacross, Alaska.
Craig Mishler is the author of The Crooked Stovepipe: Athapaskan Fiddle Music and Square Dancing in Northwest Canada. He resides in Anchorage, Alaska.
Craig Mishler is the author of The Crooked Stovepipe: Athapaskan Fiddle Music and Square Dancing in Northwest Canada. He resides in Anchorage, Alaska.