SOUTHEAST INDIANS

Houma (Homa, Ouma, Hooma)

Exist and are alive today

louisiana area

population: unsure- united houma nation claims 8,700

25,300 at time of contact- first contacted by LaSalle

pushed by white settlers to south (various moves pushing then further and further south)

1763 move- lost agricultural lands- then practiced hunting and gathering

other indians and slaves moved into their community as 1850-1920 they were fairly safe from white influence- 1920s- petroleum found in the area- incoming white interest and exploitation of resources- gave some jobs in oil fields- forced into working with shrimp and fish - led to many employed in menial labor jobs

live today in 6 kin based towns- became more integrated into white society during ww2

2 big problems: 1. when a houma indian was born- were defined as white on louisiana birth certificate- causes problems for genealogy and tracing ancestry - have difficulty getting indian funds; 2. hurricane katrina damage

NORTHWEST COAST

alaskan panhandle- along BC- washing- oregon and a little down the coast of northern california

very complex culture area

divided into 3 area: southern northwest coast, central northwest coast, northern northwest coast

central and northern and very much alike

traditionally hunting and gathering societies- one of best areas in world to carry out activities- food resources and climatic conditions are very good

major food resources- hunting of sea mammals: seals, sea lions, purposes, whales

marine life: clams, seaweed etc..

birds and birds eggs

fish- salmon (salmon runs)- dry it to have dried salmon, cod, olachen (very oil rich), halibut

land animals: deer, mountain goats (meat and hair used to weave into chilchitt blankets- hand woven by women- take months to make), elk, small game of different varieties and types

roots, berries, nuts

no starvation myths in northwest coast- indicates they have never experienced a shortage of food

southern northwest coast: some growing of tobacco for ceremonial use

2 seasons: summer (active subsistence work- hunting fishing, gathering), winter (handy crafts, trade, ceremonies)

climate is very mild (b/c of japanese current)

material culture: wood work- came from plentiful trees in region, made wooden houses- very large- house extended families (usually all kin), ceremonial posts at each corner, door is usually some animal head- crawl in through mouth, represent and mark the particular group occupying house, 18th and 19th century> center posts would be dropped onto slave in the hole for post; made items out of wood- carved and painted boxes, hand carved wooden boats with designs, baskets, wooden spoons, hand carved wooden back rests

Kinship system:

matrilineal in north, patrilineal in central and south- reflected in mythology

Political Organization:

villages as main unit > village together make up tribe

have summer and winter villages (take side boards from place to place- only leave frame work- that way they do not have to worry about other people taking up residence)

head man- title holder (kin also title holders)- if he dies and individual declares they would like to be the new head man and will do something to prove their worthiness (for example- give a potlatch--- when someone else wants to become head man he will try to throw a larger and better potlatch- "fighting with a potlatch") - canadian gov. put an end to a potlatch because of the destructive quality when men compete (killing slaves and destroying items to prove their wealth)- so coppers were given away (even though they were taken to a canadian museum for safe keeping)

tribal unit composed of villages- do not raid within own tribe

close link between political and social organization

traditional days: everyone in a community is individually ranked

2 major social classes: Freeman (title holders and commoners); Slaves (captured individuals from other groups); debt slaves- not really part of a class- individuals who have to pay off debt

achieved and acquired status

achieved- doing something special for the community, victory in war, bringing back lots of slaves, etc..

slaves were not treated too poorly other than being sacrifices at potlatches or put under the ceremonial posts- were traded al over the place and a marker of a mans prestige

debt slavery- very common in souther nwc- often people who lost in gambling - could also send children to work for man to pay off debt- not usually a debt slave for more than 2 years and did not loose rank

Rights of Passage:

Birth- held in secluded area with only women near her- ceremonies not too elaborate

puberty- woman (1st menstruation) taken to isolated room in house and would learn how to be a woman- would spend time weaving and would be visited by 2 or 3 women who sang and talked to her about oral traditions and what it is like to be an adult female- traditional days she would be there for 1 year (typically never longer than 2 years though there are records of 4 years in isolation)- father's decision- women who came received a gift everyday- things changed in 20th century- isolation dropped down to about a month

death- ritual and individual is ceremonially buried

Religion:

shamanistic religious tradition

nwc shamans: tricksters- showmen

elaborate

efficient

Art:

difficult to attribute to particular carver or group

slavery adds to this issue as a slave would add their tribes elements in with those they are required to carve

Trade:

traded up and down northwest coast- by water

special trade language: chinook jargon: chinook, english lone words, russian lone words, nootka, and lone words of other indian languages-- especially spoken in the Dalles -trading fairs