Native American Resources

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Zaarin
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Native American Resources

Post by Zaarin »

I'm looking for good cultural resources on Native Americans--particularly those of the Pacific Northwest/Alaska. Ethnographies, folklore/mythology collections, traditional clothing, cookbooks, art--anything of that sort. Online or in print, either way. I have a few resources on the Iroquois, but more wouldn't hurt. I also wouldn't object to resources on Muskogean or Siouan tribes, or any tribe located in the northern Rocky Mountains/Cascades. Or the Mississippian Mound Builders/Southeast Ceremonial Complex. I'm not so much looking for linguistic resources as cultural ones.

I'm aware this is a really random smattering of tribes. I do have some sort of vague method to my madness...
"But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?”

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Re: Native American Resources

Post by Bristel »

Here's Tulalip Tribes (Washington State) with some Lushootseed language resources, etc. http://www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
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Zaarin
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Re: Native American Resources

Post by Zaarin »

Excellent, thank you. :)
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Re: Native American Resources

Post by Xephyr »

The Handbook of North American Indians series is good. Fairly expensive, but your library might have some.
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Re: Native American Resources

Post by Zaarin »

Xephyr wrote:The Handbook of North American Indians series is good. Fairly expensive, but your library might have some.
So it does. I'll check that out (well, not literally since it appears to be classified as a government document...).
"But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?”

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Re: Native American Resources

Post by sirdanilot »

Zaarin wrote:I'm looking for good cultural resources on Native Americans--particularly those of the Pacific Northwest/Alaska. Ethnographies, folklore/mythology collections, traditional clothing, cookbooks, art--anything of that sort. Online or in print, either way. I have a few resources on the Iroquois, but more wouldn't hurt. I also wouldn't object to resources on Muskogean or Siouan tribes, or any tribe located in the northern Rocky Mountains/Cascades. Or the Mississippian Mound Builders/Southeast Ceremonial Complex. I'm not so much looking for linguistic resources as cultural ones.

I'm aware this is a really random smattering of tribes. I do have some sort of vague method to my madness...
I think it's better if you have some more specific things in mind that you are looking for. Do you have access to a university library? If not then I do but of course if it's available only in print then I cannot help you (I mean I love to help people and all but scanning entire books is a bit too much work), but these days a lot is available online as well.

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Re: Native American Resources

Post by Zaarin »

sirdanilot wrote:
Zaarin wrote:I'm looking for good cultural resources on Native Americans--particularly those of the Pacific Northwest/Alaska. Ethnographies, folklore/mythology collections, traditional clothing, cookbooks, art--anything of that sort. Online or in print, either way. I have a few resources on the Iroquois, but more wouldn't hurt. I also wouldn't object to resources on Muskogean or Siouan tribes, or any tribe located in the northern Rocky Mountains/Cascades. Or the Mississippian Mound Builders/Southeast Ceremonial Complex. I'm not so much looking for linguistic resources as cultural ones.

I'm aware this is a really random smattering of tribes. I do have some sort of vague method to my madness...
I think it's better if you have some more specific things in mind that you are looking for. Do you have access to a university library? If not then I do but of course if it's available only in print then I cannot help you (I mean I love to help people and all but scanning entire books is a bit too much work), but these days a lot is available online as well.
I do not, unfortunately. I feel like resources on clothing, folklore, and cuisine is relatively easy to come by, online or in a public library. What I could really use are ethnographies or cultural descriptions. In the Northwest I'd be particularly interested in the Haida, Tlingit, and Kwakwala but wouldn't object to sources on Tsimshianic, Salishan, and Wakashan peoples. Also the Blackfoot, for a more inland perspective. Like I said, I already have a few books on the Iroquois and Mississippians, but if anyone knows of good sources on them I'm interested.

For context, I am working on a fantasy IP with a Native American influence rather than European. Despite being fantasy I'd like to be respectful to my source material. On which note, while I have no problem including Old World mythical creatures like dragons and gryphons, if anyone knows some good Native American mythical creatures I'd be interested--I've already worked on including things like bakwas, hairy men, deer-women, and were-otters.
"But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?”

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Re: Native American Resources

Post by sirdanilot »

Zaarin wrote: I do not, unfortunately. I feel like resources on clothing, folklore, and cuisine is relatively easy to come by, online or in a public library. What I could really use are ethnographies or cultural descriptions. In the Northwest I'd be particularly interested in the Haida, Tlingit, and Kwakwala but wouldn't object to sources on Tsimshianic, Salishan, and Wakashan peoples. Also the Blackfoot, for a more inland perspective. Like I said, I already have a few books on the Iroquois and Mississippians, but if anyone knows of good sources on them I'm interested.

For context, I am working on a fantasy IP with a Native American influence rather than European. Despite being fantasy I'd like to be respectful to my source material. On which note, while I have no problem including Old World mythical creatures like dragons and gryphons, if anyone knows some good Native American mythical creatures I'd be interested--I've already worked on including things like bakwas, hairy men, deer-women, and were-otters.
Okay so you are interested in ethnographies or other cultural material about certain groups. I am myself not so much familiar on ethnographic work in this region, not at all actually, as I am more focussed on the Amazon, so that just as a reminder.
I would recommend you to go to the catalog of a university library and type in some stuff and see what interesting books you find. Then, you can search for these title online and purchase them. And sometimes, you can get free versions of the books on shady russian sites... You could for example visit the Leiden University catalog (just google it).
If I type in Haida, for example, I get a gazilion of things, such as 'northern haida songs', 'haida myths illustrated in argillite carvings', 'Gyaehlingaay : traditions, tales, and images of the Kaigani Haida ' as well as something about syntax and a dictionary. These are all freely available but unfortunately as I said I'm unable to scan entire books for you, haha. But you could try looking for some titles and see if you find them online somewhere?


The main source on native north america that I read was a grammar of Musqueam by Wayne Suttles.

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Re: Native American Resources

Post by Zaarin »

sirdanilot wrote:
Zaarin wrote: I do not, unfortunately. I feel like resources on clothing, folklore, and cuisine is relatively easy to come by, online or in a public library. What I could really use are ethnographies or cultural descriptions. In the Northwest I'd be particularly interested in the Haida, Tlingit, and Kwakwala but wouldn't object to sources on Tsimshianic, Salishan, and Wakashan peoples. Also the Blackfoot, for a more inland perspective. Like I said, I already have a few books on the Iroquois and Mississippians, but if anyone knows of good sources on them I'm interested.

For context, I am working on a fantasy IP with a Native American influence rather than European. Despite being fantasy I'd like to be respectful to my source material. On which note, while I have no problem including Old World mythical creatures like dragons and gryphons, if anyone knows some good Native American mythical creatures I'd be interested--I've already worked on including things like bakwas, hairy men, deer-women, and were-otters.
Okay so you are interested in ethnographies or other cultural material about certain groups. I am myself not so much familiar on ethnographic work in this region, not at all actually, as I am more focussed on the Amazon, so that just as a reminder.
I would recommend you to go to the catalog of a university library and type in some stuff and see what interesting books you find. Then, you can search for these title online and purchase them. And sometimes, you can get free versions of the books on shady russian sites... You could for example visit the Leiden University catalog (just google it).
If I type in Haida, for example, I get a gazilion of things, such as 'northern haida songs', 'haida myths illustrated in argillite carvings', 'Gyaehlingaay : traditions, tales, and images of the Kaigani Haida ' as well as something about syntax and a dictionary. These are all freely available but unfortunately as I said I'm unable to scan entire books for you, haha. But you could try looking for some titles and see if you find them online somewhere?


The main source on native north america that I read was a grammar of Musqueam by Wayne Suttles.
Hmm, not sure why I didn't think of that actually. Thanks. :)
"But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?”

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