Angoon Remembers Study Notes

Introduction

  • Title: "Angoon Remembers: The Religious Significance of Balance and Reciprocity"

  • Author: Nancy Furlow (Tlingit)

  • Context of the Study:

    • The U.S. Navy bombed and destroyed the Tlingit village of Angoon in 1882.

    • This event is ingrained in Tlingit oral history and collective memory.

    • Furlow's research examines the historical, cultural, and psychological effects of this destruction.

  • Author’s Background:

    • Nancy Furlow is a member of the Tlingit community and belongs to the Deisheetaan clan.

    • Current role: Interim director of Alaska Native Studies at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

    • Formerly an assistant professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

    • Educational background in anthropology (B.A. cum laude, Smith College) and religious studies (University of California, Santa Barbara).

    • Studied indigenous religious traditions under Ines Talamantez in a specialized doctoral program.

American Resilience and Historical Memory

  • Importance of resilience in American identity:

    • Americans pride themselves on the ability to mourn, rebuild, and renew after tragedy.

    • Recent analogies made to the response following the events of 9/11.

  • Query: Why can’t the people of Angoon move on from the historical bombing?

    • Continuous references to the bombing evoke feelings of grief and sadness among the Tlingit.

    • True healing is considered not the amnesia about the event but a tempering of memory over time.

    • Healing for a community entails settling and laying to rest painful memories.

Importance of Research into Angoon's History

  • The significance of researching the bombing:

    • Provides insight into an overlooked historical event in Alaska.

    • Contributes to understanding cross-cultural dynamics between Alaska Natives and non-Natives.

    • Reveals insights into communication misunderstandings during a pivotal era (post-Alaska Purchase pre-civil government setup).

  • Tlingit oral traditions versus official military narratives:

    • Oral traditions provide a counter-narrative to military records that present harsher depictions.

    • A recent letter discovered supports Tlingit perspectives on the events.

  • Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s perspective on indigenous histories:

    • Emphasizes the importance of indigenous narratives and testimonies for cultural revival.

  • Aim of Furlow's research:

    • To navigate Tlingit understanding of balance and reciprocity, capturing the community’s ongoing grief.

Tlingit Cultural Context

  • Overview of Tlingit social and cultural practices:

    • Focus on the significance of balance and reciprocity.

    • Introduces foundational Tlingit myth: Raven, creator of the world, highlighting interconnectedness between spiritual, natural, and human realms.

  • Description of Tlingit worldview:

    • Operates on principles of duality; individuals belong to one of two moieties: Yeíl (Raven) or Ch’áak’ (Eagle).

    • Clan identities determine ownership and social structure; lineage is matrilineal.

  • Cultural concept of at.óow:

    • Represents valued religious objects that symbolize ownership.

    • At.óow pertains to both physical and immaterial items, anchoring spiritual and social connections across time.

Key Concepts: Balance and Reciprocity

  • Definition and significance of balance in Tlingit life:

    • Balance is essential; disruption leads to cultural and social instability.

    • Examples:

    • Verbal exchanges must be reciprocated between moieties to maintain cultural balance.

  • Reciprocity:

    • Central to Tlingit interactions with both human and spiritual realms.

    • Governed cultural protocols, particularly in response to death and mourning ceremonies.

Tlingit Response to the Bombing of Angoon

  • Official Navy accounts vs. Tlingit oral history:

    • Navy reports claim hostages were taken, indicating a need for action to be remembered.

    • Six children died during the bombing, highlighting a tragic aftermath underreported in military narratives.

  • The crucial figure, Teel’ Tlein:

    • A respected Tlingit shaman whose accidental death required compensation according to Tlingit law.

    • The demand for blankets was rooted in restoring balance within the community, not aggression against white settlers.

  • The bombing disrupted the social and ceremonial processes essential for restoring balance:

    • Ceremonial mourning practices illustrate the importance of reciprocal relationships in community healing.

Broader Implications and Conclusions

  • The bombing and its ongoing impact:

    • The event exacerbated the community's sense of imbalance, extending grief over generations.

  • Return to the idea of balancing Indigenous and American perspectives:

    • Tlingit perspectives on balance and reciprocity challenge dominant narratives in U.S. history.

  • Importance of recognition and apology:

    • Recognition of Tlingit suffering and a formal apology are critical for restoring cultural balance.

    • Emphasis on duality:

    • Understanding it as a binding mechanism enriching Tlingit cosmology rather than a mere opposition.

  • Conclusion:

    • The unresolved nature of Angoon's grief underlines the significance of dialogue and understanding in restoring cultural relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.