To: burkemem@u.washington.edu
Subject:
Great Native American lecture at the Burke this week!
10-30-03 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maryann Barron
206-543-9762, maryannb@u.washington.edu
Journeys of
the Soul in Northwest Coast Native Cultures
Slide Presentation at the Burke Museum, Thurs., Nov. 6
6:30 pm
Seattle - How do we ensure that there will
be enough souls to go around generation after generation?
Northwest Coast Natives for centuries have had their own unique answer to
this question: Salmon shared souls with Native Americans, and ensuring
their well-being was key to the supply of human souls. Learn more about
how people shared the same soul pool with the "salmon people" on Thurs.
Nov. 6 in a slide presentation by Burke Museum Director, Dr. George
MacDonald. The lecture, entitled, "Pathways to Heaven: Journeys of the
Soul in Northwest Coast Native Culture" is free to the public.
Held in conjunction with the Burke's current exhibit: Reverent
Remembrance: Honoring the Dead, this lecture touches on how native
cultures along the Northwest Coast honored their deceased elders and
ancestors. MacDonald will illustrate these historical beliefs through
numerous examples of artwork created by 19th and early 20th century Native
Americans. The idea of shared souls is a common concept among Native
American cultures. However, the idea that salmon are a "people" and that
they specifically share souls from the same pool as do people, is unique
to this region. Their annual arrival to the rivers and streams of the
Northwest was celebrated and honored each year; guaranteeing a supply of
food, and if properly honored, of souls for future generations. .
Dr. MacDonald is the director of the Burke Museum, with over
35 years experience studying the art and culture of native groups of the
Pacific Northwest . Prior to coming to the Burke, he was director of the
Canadian Museum of Civilization, and more recently of the Museums of
Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. He has a Ph.D in Anthropology from Yale
University.
The Burke Museum is located at the corner of NE 45th St and 17th Ave
NE, on the University of Washington campus. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm
daily and until 8 pm on the first Thursday of each month. Admission
is $6.50 general, $5 seniors, $3 students/youth. The museum is FREE
to children 5 and under, Burke members, UW students, faculty, and
staff. Admission is free to the public on the first Thursday of each
month. For more information, please call 206-543-5590 or visit
www.burkemuseum.org.
Copyright © 2003 Burke Museum
Copyright © 2004 Jan Haag
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BY JAN HAAG
INTRODUCTION
+
POETRY
+
MUSIC +
ESSAYS
+ TRAVEL +
FICTION
+
TEXTILE
ART
HAAG'S BIO