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Bernice Touchie papers, 1976-1977

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Touchie, Bernice
Title
Bernice Touchie papers
Dates
1976-1977 (inclusive)
Quantity
approximately .87 cubic ft
Collection Number
2696-002
Summary
Field notes and tape recordings of work on Nitinaht (Ditidaht) language
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 repository.

Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Dr. Bernice Touchie is an Aboriginal language specialist, Nuu-chah-nulth language speaker, and teacher from the Ucluelet First Nation. She is on the advisory board for First People’s Cultural Council. She has been working on acquiring the Nuu-chah-nulth language - and also passing it onto others - since the 1970’s. The Nuu-chah-nulth are related to the Kwakwaka'wakw, the Haisla, and the Ditidaht First Nation.

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Content Description

Sound cassettes and field notes on microfiche pertaining to the Nitinaht Indian language conducted by Dr. Touchie in 1976 and 1977.

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Historical Background

The present Ditidaht Nation (also Nitinaht, Nitinat, Southern Nootkan ) is an alliance of at least ten “local groups”, each occupying a specific geographical area and centered around chiefs and their families. The local group took its name from the name of its main village’s location. It is likely that these groups were more independent long before white settlers came to their shores, but during the time since their history has been recorded in documents, they have been viewed as one people, with one common territory, and known by one name: diitiidʔaaʔtx̣.

The Ditidaht and the Pacheenaht people speak closely-related dialects of a language called Nitinaht or “Ditidaht”. It is one of three closely-related languages (Nitinaht, Makah, and Westcoast) forming the South Wakashan sub-group of the Wakashan Language Family. Their American relatives across the Strait of Juan de Fuca around Neah Bay speak Makah, and neighbors living northwest from Pacheena Point speak Westcoast (also called “Nuu-chah-nulh,” but formerly called “Nootka”). The Nitinaht and Makah languages are much more closely related to each other than they are to Westcoast. Historically, Westcoast speakers have lived along the west coast of Vancouver Island between Cape Cook and Pachena Point; speakers of Nitinaht lived along the coast (including the area up the Nitinat drainage and Cowichan Lake) between Pachena Point and Point No Point; and Makah speakers lived along the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, between the Hoko River and Cape Alava.

[Information adapted from the official website of the Ditidaht First Nation; Date Accessed: 05/11/2023]

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 2696-002-01, Bernice Touchie papers, 1976
  • Accession No. 2696-002-02, Bernice Touchie papers, 1977

Preservation Note

Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Touchie, Bernice (creator)

    Corporate Names

    • Jacobs Research Fund (creator)
    • Jacobs Research Funds (creator)


2014 (Last modified: 7/13/2023)

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