Ann M. Bates papers, 1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bates, Ann M.
Title
Ann M. Bates papers
Dates
1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.5" linear (12 sound cassettes)
Collection Number
2696-078 (Accession No. 2696-078-01)
Summary
Tape recorded linguistic research including interviews with Helen Peterson, Makah Indian, on topics connected with stories told by Peterson
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Access restricted: For terms of access, contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Helen Peterson (Makah) was a teacher of Indian culture, legends, and history in the elementary school at Neah Bay. She was a consultant for her tribe and culture to several universities and researchers. An active storyteller of the Makah people, Helen was beloved by children as she encompassed the gift of understanding the young mind and passing down tribal history to Makah youth through songs and stories.

Ann M. Bates is an independent anthropologist who received her Ph.D in Social and Cultural Anthropology from Indiana University Bloomington.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Until historic times, the Makah Tribe was composed of five principal winter villages. The prehistoric population of the Makah was estimated to be between approximately 2000 – 4000 people. Today there are roughly 1500 living in and around Neah Bay. The five villages were located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. These villages were composed of large cedar plank longhouses, which housed many members of an extended family. The social units of Makah life were large extended families. Cultural information was vested in these families, as were inherited cultural privileges, or “tupat” such as ownership of songs, dances, stories, land and ocean resources and cultural information. Such “tupat” was and is today, owned not by the Makah as a whole, but by Makah families and individuals within the Family.

Although Makah cultural practices vary from family to family, dance and song have always been an important way for native peoples to communicate, tell stories and pass down cultural information to the next generation. This was the way most of their ancestors received the stories of elders before written language. Songs, dances and stories are owned by specific families or individuals, meaning that they can only be performed by members of that family. At potlatches, these songs are performed by the families to reaffirm ownership and identify family members which have the right to sing them. The songs are used at weddings, naming ceremonies, memorials and other family or community celebrations.

Today, the Makah still practice their cultural heritage, teach language start children, hold dance practices and participate in canoe journeys. They continue to pass down the ancient songs of their ancestors and new songs are composed to commemorate important events in their lives.

(Source: “Learn About the Makah”, Makah Tribal Council, web)

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Linguistic research conducted by cultural anthropologist, Ann M. Bates (Ph.D.) in 1990. Bates consulted with Helen Peterson, a Makah elder and storyteller. Audio cassettes contain recordings of topics and stories from the Makah tribe, as told by Peterson. .

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights retained. Contact repository for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1 Tape 1
audio cassette
Subject: Makah Stories (Tape 1 of 2); Place: Makah Reservation, Neah Bay, Washington; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
May 26, 1990
1 Tape 2
audio cassette
Subject: Makah Stories (Tape 2 of 2); Place: Makah Reservation, Neah Bay, Washington; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
May 26, 1990
1 Tape 3
audio cassette
Subject: Helen's stories, frogs, sasquatch story (Tape 1 of 2); Place: Neah Bay, Washington; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
July 13, 1990
1 Tape 4
audio cassette
Subject: Makah stories; Place: Neah Bay, Washington; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
July 14, 1990
1 Tape 5
audio cassette
Subject: Qweti stories. Retelling of some stories and additional material (Tape 1 of 2); Place: Neah Bay, Washington; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
August 27, 1990
1 Tape 6
audio cassette
Subject: Material in Helen's stories Klookshood and the Bear (Tape 2 of 2); Place: Neah Bay, Washington; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
August 27, 1990
1 Tape 7
audio cassette
Subject: Discussion of Qweti and Sea Monster, how stories fit, explanations found in new stories.Place: Neah Bay, Washington; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
September 30, 1990
1 Tape 8
audio cassette
Subject: Characters in Makah stories; Place: Makah ReservationConsultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
October 27, 1990
1 Tape 9
audio cassette
Subject: Information about Makah stories Helen tellsPlace: Makah ReservationConsultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
October 28, 1990
1 Tape 10
audio cassette
Subject: Information on Makah stories; Place: Makah Reservation; Consultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
December 16-17, 1990
1 Tape 11
audio cassette
Subject: Information on Helen's Makah stories; Place: Makah ReservationConsultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
January 20, 1991
1 Tape 12
audio cassette
Subject: Makah stories, information on Helen's stories (Ozettes kidnapped, Qweti and the Monster, The Crane, The Famine); Place: Makah ReservationConsultant: Helen Peterson; Interviewer: Ann Bates
March 24, 1991

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Peterson, Helen

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Bates, Ann M (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Jacobs Research Funds (creator)