Title: Paddling to where I stand : Agnes Alfred, Qwiqwasutinuxw noblewoman /
Authors: Alfred, Agnes.; Reid, Martine Jeanne, 1945-; Sewid-Smith, Daisy.
Publisher: UBC Press ; University of Washington Press,
Year: 2004
Subjects: Alfred, Agnes.; Kwakiutl Indians Biography.; Indians of North America Northwest Coast of North America Biography.; Northwest Coast of North America Biography.
Abstract: "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."--BOOK JACKET.
Contents: Myth time -- War, conflict, and slavery -- Childhood -- Becoming a woman -- Marrying Moses Alfred -- Ceremonies and rituals -- Fragments of recollections : Eulogy for Granny.