The Tsimshian tribe was
very complex in structure and has a unique culture. The tribe was organized
into four major crests: Eagle, Fireweed, Wolf and Frog. Each crest had four
meanings and was further broken down into clans, sub-clans, individuals and
family lineages. The villages had families from different crests as well as
each person containing their own rank, but none with the same. To maintain
their status, arranged marriages were done, as well as people in the same family
could not marry another from their own crest, so marriages had to be done with
two individuals from different crests (The Tsimshian Nation). When a man
decides to marry a woman, he has to pay her father an agreed amount before the
wedding. However, after the birth of the first child, the wife’s clan pays back
the husband an equal amount. From here on out, the marriage is annulled and the
woman can choose whether to stay with her husband or leave him (Canada’s First
Peoples, 2007).
For
family, 20-50 people could be the amount each family contains within their
crest. Heredity was passed down through the mother’s side, which means the
lineage and names come from her. Also, the inheritance are from her which
include: clan fishing, hunting and gathering land, specific clan crests rights
that are used for designing houses, clothes, ceremonies and totem poles (Eyak,
Tlingit, 2011). The father does not pass down any
heredity but his crest provided him duties to his children. The roles for
husband and wife are as follows: the husband would adapt by hunting and
gathering and using agriculture, while the wife cleans, cooks and takes care of
the children. The wife usually goes to live wherever the husband lives. The
education of the daughter would come from the mother, however, for the son; the
education would come from the mother’s brother (The Tsimshian Nation).
References:
Canada’s First Peoples
2007. Northwest Coastal People. Goldi Productions Ltd. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_nwc6.html
2007. Northwest Coastal People. Goldi Productions Ltd. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_nwc6.html
"Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Cultures of Alaska"
2011. The Alaska Native Heritage Center Museum. http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/nwcp/central/data/tsimshia.html
2011. The Alaska Native Heritage Center Museum. http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/nwcp/central/data/tsimshia.html
Reflecting on the Tsimshain Marriage and Family
ReplyDeleteThe Tsimshian tribe is what I think one of the most difficult tribes to follow in the case of the division of crests, clans and sub-clans. In this tribe it shows to be that the female in the relationship is superior to the male and revolves around her. For instance, the family name a child gets is from the mother as well as the inheritance, while in today’s era, it would be the opposite and the inheritance one gets would come from both parents. Also, for marriage it seems that the wife gets to decide if she wants to stay in her current relationship or move on, compared to the present days were both wife and husband can divorce. However, the tribe isn’t so different from any other group.They have their own set of rules and regulations and they have their roles.
The Tsimshian people are a very interesting and civilized group in the specific way its run. I would like to see how everything is done and see if the perspective is the same as the research explains. But adapting to their environment and going through the five stages of culture shock would be the hardest part. I would say the tribes like this have minor Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism because of the limited outside contact they would face. Overall, the Tsimshian had their own agency as well as their culture being unique back then to the way it is in the present.
Thank you Kevin. This was interesting. You all might still need to fix the refs; that is, make them more consistent, and I notice some white lines over part of your post, and Karisa shows that too, but she talked to me about it. I don't know what is that. Anyway, you are good to go for today. Thanks
ReplyDeleteKevin,
ReplyDeleteLike I said before, this is a very interesting post, but I still think you could add some of the stuff we used for gender and marriage in class. Why not incorporate some of what you watched in the video clips fro comparison. Descent in this group is matrilineal too. We did talk about it in class, and as you can see in your own example here, women have relatively more prestige and freedom. You don't have to make it a treatise on what we did in class. Please, just try to incorporate some of that material. For tonight, worry about your presentation tomorrow. After class, you will have most of the day to add things here on the blog. I will check tomorrow evening again for the final eval. Also, your refs, need to show when the electronic docs were accessed. Refer to the AAA Style Guide. All of you have that same problem or omission. And as I also explained it to Mr Miller, the fonts/sizes are all over the place. You just need to be all consistent. Thank you. Good work, but I know you can do even better :-)