Tuesday, January 27, 2009

HUM 221: Haida language and culture links

Since we're reading a Haida story, the one about "Salmon Boy" linked below (Monday), I'm posting some links on the Haida language and the Northwest Coast Culture broadly shared by the Haida, Tlingit, Eyak and Tsimshian peoples of Southeast Alaska and western Canada.

We will not become "instant experts" on these people; I think it would be disrespectful for us to even try. But perhaps by knowing something about how important salmon fishing is in the Northwest Coast culture, we can better appreciate the "Salmon Boy" story. And when we know that only a few hundred people are native speakers of the Haida language and it is in danger of dying out, we can get a sense of what a fragile resource a language -- anyone's language -- is and how important it is for the people who speak it.

Then we're going to go back to Monday's blog post. So far three students have posted reactions. Way to go! And the rest of us can open Google accounts and post today. I'll add some instructions to Monday's post below.

2 comments:

ZACOD said...

1) I felt that all of the values that were mention were shown in some way in the story of the "Samon Boy".
2)To me some of the values have different means than what they are listed as. Show respect to others and honor your elders I think are the most universal. See connections,accept what life brings you, live carefully, and share what you have are all good examples of what a sea-faring cultures values.
3)Tall tale to get childern to mind

Alora Tolliver said...

LIfe drastically changed for him after he returned. I believe he understood and accepted most of the values.He put them toward helping others and applying himself.
If you are coming from another culture or place you have to learn their or at least understand, values and culture. The basic human vales of life our honesty,coursty,etc. but most aviod this an do what only suites them. Peolpe that use nature as a way of life our the one who reseve an pass on cultures.
I think its a great book because storys like this shows you a new worldview to life and funtions.