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    Northern Dene astronomical and sky-related knowledge: a comparative anthropological study

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    Author
    Cannon, Chris M.
    Chair
    Plattet, Patrick
    Holton, Gary
    Committee
    Koester, David
    Shoaps, Robin
    Keyword
    Dene Thá philosophy
    Ethnoastronomy
    Tanana cosmology
    Dene Thá people
    Gwich'in people
    Philosophy
    Gwich'in philosophy
    Alaska native cosmology
    Constellations
    Ethnophilosophy
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11122/12991
    Abstract
    The sky and its contents are routinely overlooked in Northern Dene ethnology as a meaningful part of linguistic and cultural knowledge. However, more than 11 years of primary fieldwork learning with and from elders, speakers, and culture bearers from 12 Northern Dene groups across 32 communities in Alaska and Canada has shown that astronomical knowledge is deeply rooted in both practical and sacred ways of knowing. With a focus on detail and breadth, this comparative ethnological study utilized an experience-based approach to investigate the ways in which Northern Dene Peoples perceive, conceptualize, and integrate the sky and its contents into systems of knowledge, practices, worldview, cosmology, and spirituality. At the center of these knowledge systems is a principal constellation often identified as the incarnated spirit of a Traveler-Transformer figure who circled the world in Distant Time. Although this Traveler is widely known in Dene mythology as the one who instilled balance and order in the world, his enigmatic transformation to the sky was traditionally known by spiritually gifted people. The "Traveler" constellation is not only a world custodian and archetype of an idealized medicine person, but it is also a teacher, ally, game keeper, and the embodiment of the world. Taken together, the Traveler on earth and in the sky provides a powerful conceptual model for behaviors and actions as a central organizing principle and locus of indigenous Northern Dene worldview, cosmology, and spirituality. Two other subsequent chapters focus on general concepts of stars, minor constellations, and the use of stars in time-reckoning, weather forecasting, and wayfinding. These are followed by a chapter pertaining to the sun and moon as animate and personified beings that also embody fundamental models for proper behaviors and actions. The final chapter, prior to the conclusion, centers on socio-cosmic relationships between the Dene and a host of highly sentient atmospheric phenomena that bridge the divide between the upper cosmos and the lived world of humans. Collectively, this work underscores that the earth and sky are not exclusive of one another but are part and parcel to a unified Northern Dene cosmology and worldview that are deeply grounded in relational significances. This is among relatively few book-length studies in anthropology on the indigenous astronomical knowledge, perceptions, and practices of any extant culture in the world.
    Description
    Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2021
    Table of Contents
    Chapter 1: Introduction -- The Northern Dene -- A review of the literature -- Methods and approach -- A note on Northern Dene orthographies -- Dissertation organization. Chapter 2: Northern Dene traveler constellations -- The Gwitchin constellation, Yahdii -- The Ahtna constellation, Nek'eltaeni -- The Sahtúot'ı̨nę constellation, Yı́hda or Yámǫréya -- Other examples from this study -- The Lower Tanana constellation, Nogheyoli -- The Tanacross constellation, Neek'e'elteen -- The Upper Tanana constellation, Yihdaa, Neek'e'eltiin, or Che' t'iin -- The Yellowknives Dene constellation, Yèhdaa, Yı̀hda, or Yehdaa -- The Koyukon constellation, Ghededzuyhdle or Naagheltaale -- The Upper Kuskokwim constellation, Noghiltale -- The Dëne Sųłıné constellation, Yéhda or Yeda -- The Dena'ina constellation, Yuq'eltani or Naq'eltaeni -- Supporting evidence from the literature -- Chapter Two: Conclusion. Chapter 3: Interpretation of Northern Dene traveler constellations -- Distribution of the Northern Dene mythic traveler cycle -- An archetype of the Northern Dene medicine person and vision quest -- A note on religious change and stellar knowledge -- Chapter Three: Conclusion. Chapter 4: General concepts of stars and other constellations -- General concepts of stars and the "Star Husband" story -- A constellation of hunters or dogs pursuing an animal -- Chapter Four: Conclusion. Chapter 5: Stellar time-reckoning, wayfinding, and weather forecasting -- Northern Dene divisions of time -- Northern Dene stellar time-reckoning -- Introduction to Northern Dene stellar wayfinding -- Yellowknives Dene stellar wayfinding -- Gwich'in stellar wayfinding -- Discussion on Northern Dene stellar wayfinding -- Stars and planets in weather forecasting -- Chapter Five: Conclusion. Chapter 6: The sun, moon, and eclipses -- The Sun -- The Moon -- Eclipses -- Chapter Six: Conclusion. Chapter 7: Atmospheric phenomena -- Northern lights -- Meteors -- Atmospheric halos, sundogs, and sun pillars -- Rainbows -- Thunderbird -- Deterring unfavorable weather -- Colors of the sky -- Chapter Seven: Conclusion. Chapter 8: Conclusion -- References -- Appendices.
    Date
    2021-12
    Type
    Dissertation
    Collections
    Anthropology

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