Anthropology of the Development of Northwest Coast Indians

Research Project

Project/Area Number	10041029
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B).
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	文化人類学(含民族学・民俗学)
Research Institution	Hokkaido Tokai University
Principal Investigator	OKADA Atsuko Hokkaido Tokai University, School of International Cultural Relations, Professor, 国際文化学部, 教授 (80050780)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	MASHIKO Machiya Kanazawa Gakuin University, Faculty of Letters, Professor, 文学部, 教授 (30209423) OKADA Hiroaki Hokkai Gakuen University, Faculty of Humanities, Professor, 人文学部, 教授 (50002283)
Project Period (FY)	1998 – 1999
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 1999)
Budget Amount *help	¥8,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,800,000) Fiscal Year 1999: ¥4,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000) Fiscal Year 1998: ¥4,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,800,000)
Keywords	Northwest Coast Indian / developmental Anthronology / Christianization / Tradition and its rebirth / matrilineal society / potlatch / native tourism / subsistence strategy / メトラカトラ / アラスカのチムシアン / 伝統と近代 / 開発と先住民
Research Abstract	In the year of 1998 and 1999, our research party stayed in Metlakatla, Alaska, U. S. A. and in the vicinity of Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada and carried out fieldwork by way of participant observation, interview and /or data collection. Main results are as follows: 1) In 1998, our observations and surveys covered local institutions including the Metlakatla Community Office, the Village Council, salmon hatchery, churches, Duncan cottage, tribal long house, etc. We also attended the 111th anniversary potlatch festival, to which Tsimshian elders were invited from B.C., Canada. 2) In 1999, we were again invited to join the memorial potlatch ceremony in Metlakatla for a deceased lady that had never been held in the last seventy years. It reveals the survival of the time-old matrilineal social system. 3) Individual researchers pursued his or her own area of interest. H. Okada described and analyzed changing economic strategy of the local people in lumbering and fishing in particular. M. Mashiko focused his attention upon the unique process of Christianization as well as the recent rebirths of traditional folk arts and beliefs. A. Okada, analyzing and discussing attitudinal change of local people and empowerment of women, went ahead to inquire into their motivations for modern development, compiling many old documents about the past population.