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Summary Of The Book 'Rifles, Blankets, And Beads'

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“Rifles, Blankets, and Beads” delivers an entertaining perspective on the Northern Athapaskan village of Tanacross. This book is an outstanding resource for anthropologists, students, and educators. In reviewing this book, the author brings a descriptive writing style when analyzing the Northern Athapaskan village of Tanacross culture and history with a focus on the potlatch giving us insight details how the potlatch celebrated among the Tanacross people. The author, William E. Simeone, is a great source for the Northern Athapaskan village of Tanacross because he lived there among the people. In addition to living there he also attended ceremonies in both Tanacross and surrounding villages, and participated in potlatches within the villages. …show more content…

This book is divided into eight chapters. The Opening of the book gives inside information about the author living among the Tanacross people. Then it progresses through the early history of the Tanacross people to the modern Tanacross people. It concludes with a summary of why potlatches are important to the village of Tanacross, and about the importance of everyone to sticking together. While there isn’t enough time to thoroughly review all topics, there is a detailed bibliography that provides sources to obtain more information if …show more content…

This book doesn’t cover all different kinds of village potlatches, and every potlatch may not be the same, but the overall aspects that the author covers about the Tanacross potlatches are similar to most. For instance, most colleges covering this class, use the textbook that I mentioned before titled “An Introduction to Native North America”. This textbook goes into detail about the Northwest coast societies potlatch, which I mentioned that their potlatches are mainly done to show off one’s wealth (Sutton 126). There are still some similarities between the Tanacross people and Northwest coast societies though. One similarity is both the Northwest coast societies and the Tanacross people held potlatches for many occasions. The Northwest coast societies held potlatches for a birth of a child, a funeral, or another reason seen fit (Sutton 126). While the Tanacross people held potlatches for similar occasions or something as simple as one lady did in “Rifles, Blankets, and Beads” for her son catching his first fish. Both potlatches also consist of having big feasts to feed your guest for days and giving away gifts. Potlatches are the one widely known Native tradition that is still celebrated to this day that’s why it’s important if taking a class or majoring in Native American Cultures to learn about potlatches as much as you can

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