Post by spence on Jan 31, 2020 20:36:45 GMT -7
Early in the 20th century an anthropologist, Gilbert Livingston Wilson, did an extensive study of the culture of the Hidatsa Indians and produce some of the most educational and interesting reports I’ve run across. I can recommend all of the reports without reservation to anyone re-enacting Native Americans or who is just interested in other cultures as I am.
Here’s a list of the reports, which I found over the years online and downloaded as PDF.
Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden...minute detail of many aspects of tribal and family life around descriptions of agricultural practices.
Hidatsa Eagle Trapping….the best narrative of aspects of the spiritual and religious life of a tribe I’ve seen, excellent. Especially appropriate for re-enactors back story.
The Hidatsa Earthlodge….extensive discussion of the building and management of the family shelter, plus much culture.
The Horse and The Dog in Hidatsa Culture….fascinating, use of dogs as bearers of burdens, training of horses, daily activities of teenage boys.
The Hidatsa village was near that of the Mandan on the Missouri River, where Lewis and Clark overwintered the first year. Sacagawea was a Shoshone girl captured by the Hidatsa, she of course went with the expedition from there. The Mandan tribe called the Hidatsa the Minnetaree.
Those reports are, of course, about plaines Indians. There is also an excellent book I recommend for those interested in the northern eastern woodland Indians. It’s concerning a teenage man who was captured, adopted by the Mohawk people, and spent five years with them. Totally absorbing for me, and very educational, especially during his captivity, but also for many years afterward.
Scoouwa: James Smith’s Indian Captivity Narrative
Spence
Here’s a list of the reports, which I found over the years online and downloaded as PDF.
Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden...minute detail of many aspects of tribal and family life around descriptions of agricultural practices.
Hidatsa Eagle Trapping….the best narrative of aspects of the spiritual and religious life of a tribe I’ve seen, excellent. Especially appropriate for re-enactors back story.
The Hidatsa Earthlodge….extensive discussion of the building and management of the family shelter, plus much culture.
The Horse and The Dog in Hidatsa Culture….fascinating, use of dogs as bearers of burdens, training of horses, daily activities of teenage boys.
The Hidatsa village was near that of the Mandan on the Missouri River, where Lewis and Clark overwintered the first year. Sacagawea was a Shoshone girl captured by the Hidatsa, she of course went with the expedition from there. The Mandan tribe called the Hidatsa the Minnetaree.
Those reports are, of course, about plaines Indians. There is also an excellent book I recommend for those interested in the northern eastern woodland Indians. It’s concerning a teenage man who was captured, adopted by the Mohawk people, and spent five years with them. Totally absorbing for me, and very educational, especially during his captivity, but also for many years afterward.
Scoouwa: James Smith’s Indian Captivity Narrative
Spence