Description
Book SynopsisThe Tsimshian people of coastal British Columbia use a system of hereditary name-titles in which names are treated as objects of inheritable wealth. This book examines the way in which names link members of a lineage to a past and to the places where that past unfolded.
Trade Review"Roth's work is an exemplar of both theory and ethnography that will rekindle the excitement and interest in this region, its society, and its culture. His book on Tsimshian names has a relevance for all anthropologists and scholars interested in contemporary theory and ethnography." Charles Menzies, University of British Columbia "This is an important work that combines extensive ethnographic fieldwork with sophisticated theoretical analysis of cultural, historical, and linguistic data. It will be valued by scholars of the region, as well as those interested in such issues as cultural continuity, naming practices, and traditional land tenure. It should be the new gold standard for Tsimshian studies." Michael Harkin, University of Wyoming "Roth provides a major new contribution to Tsimshian, Northwest, and Personhood studies. His argument is persuasive and well written and is likely to appeal to a wide readership because it includes vivid examples." Jay Miller, Ohio State University
Table of ContentsA Note on the Orthography
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Names as People
3. Names as Wealth
4. History and Structure in Tsimshian Lineage Consciousness
5. Decent, Continuity, and Identity under Colonialism
Appendix A. Glossary
Appendix B. Tshimshian Houses
Notes
Bibliography
Index
