Earth & Sky: Visions of the Cosmos in Native American FolkloreRay A. Williamson, Claire R. Farrer Native American starlore has instructed and entertained non-natives for generations. Yet until recently the importance of this extensive body of tradition and acute observation has been ignored or viewed by non-natives simply as crude means to astronomical insight. In this edited collection, seventeen folklorists and astronomers consider American starlore and its relation to specific observation of the sky in terms of its native uses and interpretations. Far from being another recount of sky mythology, this is a book that relates clear descriptions of astronomical phenomena and mechanics to interpretation and ritual usage from all areas of North America. Navajo, Seneca, Alabama, Pawnee, Lakota, Apache, and other peoples are represented. Rather than focus on pristine astronomies, the contributors to this volume consider ongoing traditions and contemporary usages. A broad perspective on the exciting new field of ethnoastronomy, as well as fascinating insight into Native American wisdom. |
Contents
The Animating Breath page | 1 |
Cosmos and Poesis in the Seneca ThankYou Prayer page | 25 |
An Alabama Myth of the Stars page | 52 |
Copyright | |
12 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Earth & Sky: Visions of the Cosmos in Native American Folklore Ray A. Williamson,Claire R. Farrer No preview available - 1994 |
Common terms and phrases
Ajumawi Alabama Algonkian American Ethnology American Indian animals Anthropology appears Archaeoastronomy astronomical behavior Big Dipper Blackfoot Blessingway booghan breath Bunzel Bureau of American Busk Cahuilla calendar California canoe celestial ceremonial chapter chief Clot-of-Blood constellations corn Corona Borealis cosmology Coyote created creation Creator culture Cushing cycle Dance Earth and Sky earthbound eclipse equinox ethnoastronomy ethnographic folklore Genonsgwa ground figure groups heavens horizon Hoskinson human hunter hunting important Jamul June solstice Kwahn Lakota living lodge lunar Mescalero Apache Mexico Press monsters moon Morning Star mountain myth Nanabush narrative Native American Navajo night North observations Ojibwa orenda Patencio Pawnee Piman Pleiades Pueblo refer rise ritual Rock Art sacred saguaro sandpainting Saxton Sears Point Seneca shamans Simloki's shadow Skidi society songs spirit starlore story summer solstice sunrise Swanton symbolic Tedlock tion told traditional tribes Tsimshian Twin War Gods University Venus Wabeno Williamson Wind woman women Zuni