Scope and Contents: This collection consists of eight Tsimshian Indian translated transcriptions produced from recordings taped circa the 1970s and 1980s. The translation and transcriptions were conducted through grants administered from SHI’s Language Department. The Tsimshian interviewees are Frances Hanberry Duncan, Flora Mather, Steven Faber, Ira Booth, Fanny Haldane and Amelia Williams. These individuals talked about their personal histories, cultural oral histories and traditional knowledge. Subjects include geographic locations, traditional medicine, fish trap making, and seaweed gathering and processing. The interviewees also related stories told to them by their older family members. The earliest time frame referenced by the interviewees is 1897 with the latest dated circa 1982. One story told or eluded to in three of the five interviews is “The Ones Who Met on the Ice” story. Two versions (folder one & folder two) are related by Frances Duncan; each version contains many similar points yet they differ. The remaining version is found in folder five. It is an attenuated version found in a conversation that is spirited and full of interruptions.
Note to researchers: The information included in these transcribed interviews provides a rich foundation for the study of the Tsimshian culture and language in the Southeast Alaskan area. Both Tsimshian and English translations were included by the SHI Language Department when creating these documents and when unable to determine word usage by interviewee, the transcriber indicated as such. A list of subjects, terms and individuals covered by the transcriptions are: (folder four) Alonza Booth, Reggie Booth, Bill Coyne, Karl Cook, Eddie Leask, David Nelson, Kinkey, and Albert Bolton. Terms used are: fish traps, floating traps, cannery, Ketchikan, Hydaburg, Metlakatla, Sitka; (folder five) Git Laan, the Nishgaa, the Kala Kshyen, Metlakatla, Bella Bella, Esther Campbell, Edwin Verney, Kathryn Marsden, Hidden Inlet, Ketchikan, Charles Burton nee Barton, Chilkat blankets, cedar baskets, totem poles, Shdigeen/Stikeen, George Inlet Mountain, Deer Mountain, People of the Stikeen, Daam Lack Aam, Port Simpson, Bey[n]on, Henry Tate, sea otter, cures and traditional medicines, Japan, ancient hunter clothing, cedar mats, sailing, Git Hawahee, Awaii – Hawaii, Clifton, Edward Bryant, Nass River, Rupert, rock weaponry, wood plank treatments, peesha plywood, Yakutat, Gash-goa, Git “Nak-Doashda”, ducks and birds, Cape Munson, Old Metlakatla, Fort Simpson.
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