Spider Woman: A Story of Navajo Weavers and Chanters

by Gladys A. Reichard

Overview

This lively account of a pioneering anthropologist's experiences with a Navajo family grew out of the author's desire to learn to weave as a way of participating in Navajo culture rather than observing it from the outside. In 1930, when Gladys Reichard came to stay with the family of Red-Point, a well-known Navajo singer, it was unusual for an anthropologist to live with a family and become intimately connected with women's activities. First published in 1934 for a popular audience, Spider Woman is valued today not just for its information on Navajo culture but as an early example of the kind of personal, honest ethnography that presents actual experiences and conversations rather than generalizing the beliefs and behaviors of a whole culture. Readers interested in Navajo weaving will find it especially useful, but Spider Woman's picture of daily life goes far beyond rugs to describe trips to the trading post, tribal council meetings, curing ceremonies, and the deaths of family members.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826317933
Publisher:	University of New Mexico Press
Publication date:	04/01/1997
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	328
Sales rank:	718,982
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.97(d)
Lexile:	1000L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

I. White Sands 11

II. Established 14

III. Tension 21

IV. Sand Paintings 26

V. Sympathy 34

VI. Marie Learns To Weave 38

VII. Results 44 42

VIII. At The Well 45

IX. Taking Counsel 51

X. Design 56

XI. Rain 64

XII. Understanding 73

XIII. Self–Reliance 76

XIV. Criticism 82

XV. Dan 87

XVI. Sheep Dipping 91

XVII. House Guardian 94

XVIII. Wedding 98

XIX. Shooting Chant 104

XX. Communion Of Suffering 111

XXI. The Gods Invited 116

XXII. The Holy Twins 120

XXIII. Sun’s House 126

XXIV. The Gods Accept 132

XXV. Effects 142

XXVI. The Kinni’s Sons 145

XXVII. Standards 153

XXVIII. White Sands Desolated 157

XXIX. War Dance 161

XXX. Killing The Ghost 165

XXXI. Marie’s Little Lamb 167

XXXII. Tragedy 169

XXXIII. Death 176

XXXIV. Collecting Plants 179

XXXV. Fathere’s Sister 187

XXXVI. Degree in Weaving 190