Paddling to where I stand : Agnes Alfred, Qwiqwasutinuxw noblewoman

Book

Paddling to where I stand : Agnes Alfred, Qwiqwasutinuxw noblewoman / as told to Martine J. Reid and Daisy Sewid-Smith ; edited and annotated with an introduction by Martine J. Reid ; translated by Daisy Sewid-Smith.

Alfred, Agnes. (Author). Reid, Martine Jeanne, 1945- (Added Author). Sewid-Smith, Daisy. (Added Author).

Summary:

"Agnes Alfred (c. 1890-1992), a non-literate noble Qwiqwasutinuxw woman, wove narratives from myths, chants, historical accounts, and personal reminiscences. Paddling to Where I Stand is her first-hand account of the most significant period of change she and her people experienced since first contact with Europeans, and her memoirs flow from her desire to pass on her knowledge to younger generations." "Well versed in the customs of the Kwakwakewakw, Agnes sets forth, in the classic oral tradition, the foundations and the enduring pulse of her living culture. She shares stories that are both humorous and moving, while contributing to our understanding of several traditional practices, including pre-arranged marriages and the complex potlatch ceremonies. She also shows how a First Nations woman managed to quietly fulfill her role as a noble matriarch in ever-changing society, thus providing a role model for those who came after her."--Jacket.

Record details

ISBN: 029598435X
ISBN: 9780295984353
ISBN: 0774809124
ISBN: 9780774809122
ISBN: 0774809132
ISBN: 9780774809139
Physical Description: xxxix, 283 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 23 cm
Publisher: Vancouver : UBC Press ; ©2004.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references (pages 252-269) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:: Myth time -- War, conflict, and slavery -- Childhood -- Becoming a woman -- Marrying Moses Alfred -- Ceremonies and rituals -- Fragments of recollections : Eulogy for Granny.