ABSTRACT

We scrutinize previously untranslated field notebooks of Franz Boas that relate to the lower Fraser River region of coastal British Columbia, and contextualize the historical and social position of his principle interlocutor, siyá:m George StsEē’lis. In doing so, we reposition the available documentary evidence about this siyá:m for a different perspective on his people’s history than has been written. The central themes emerging from our study provide new insights into genealogy and inheritance, marriage alliances, and the nature of leadership during a socially tumultuous time. These insights in turn are the key to interpreting conflicting anthropological narratives that continue to undermine an indigenous communities’ assertions of identity, history, and territorial rights.

摘要

我们仔细检查了 Franz Boas 以前未翻译的与不列颠哥伦比亚省沿海弗雷泽河下游地区相关的田野笔记，并将他的主要对话者 siyá:m George StsEē'lis 的历史和社会地位背景化。在这样做的过程中，我们重新定位了关于这个 siyá:m 的现有文献证据，以便从一个不同于所写的角度来看待他的人民的历史。我们研究中出现的中心主题为社会动荡时期的家谱和继承、婚姻联盟以及领导的本质提供了新的见解。这些见解反过来又是解释相互冲突的人类学叙事的关键，这些叙事继续破坏土著社区对身份、历史和领土权利的主张。