Folk-Tales of the Coast Salish

Synopsis

First published in 1934, Folk-Tales of the Coast Salish is one of the most significant collections of Coast Salish oral literature ever published. Compiled by anthropologist Thelma Adamson from stories shared by Upper Chehalis and Cowlitz Salish knowledge keepers, the collection preserves 155 traditional narratives, many describing the time "when all the animals were people." By presenting multiple versions of the same stories, the book reflects the richness and diversity of Coast Salish storytelling traditions.

This expanded edition includes a biographical essay on Adamson, musical transcriptions by ethnomusicologist George Herzog, and extensive comparative notes by Adele Froehlich. An invaluable resource for readers interested in Indigenous oral traditions, folklore, and the cultural history of the Pacific Northwest, the collection stands as both an important historical document and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.

About the Book

Thelma Adamson (1901–1983) was an American anthropologist and a student of Franz Boas. Among the first women to conduct ethnographic fieldwork in the Pacific Northwest, she worked closely with Upper Chehalis and Cowlitz storytellers to document and preserve their oral traditions. This edition includes additional scholarly material that places her work within its historical and cultural context.

Publisher
Bison Books / University of Nebraska Press

Publication Date
January 1, 2008

Format
Paperback

Pages
544

Subjects
Indigenous Studies · Folklore · Coast Salish · Oral History · Anthropology

ISBN
9780803226685