Introduction

This paper will review the First Nation's tradition of oral histories; a complex system that has accurately maintained clan and family history for generations. In fact, Archeologists think that the oral histories in the northwest record stories and events that extend back as far as 10,000 years to early post-glacial times (Fladmark 2001). In particular, this paper will review the tradition of oral histories in the northwest, including the first collectors of oral histories in post-contact times, and provide some examples of oral histories of the area. The information and oral histories provided in this paper is primarily based on published sources, with some special interviews conducted for this report.

Table of Contents    Next