Thursday, December 13, 2018 - We did a couple of short samples in the two creeks closest to the station! They were very interesting sites. By brief visual assessment they will likely be the most biologically diverse. Site 3 at the waterfall was interesting as we only found three individual specimens there. We will likely go back and sample that site again tomorrow. A couple of the groups we ran into said the water trail is completely passable with care so that should make it interesting. After supper we had cultural exchange. The Gnöbe shared some nice social dances with us. They were fun! Katelyn was able to share her family song with us. Kristie from Heritage University shared the swan dance it was a beautiful dance just for the ladies . The song she sang was hard to get out of your head. Overall the night was amazing. I visited with Jessica and Saliciano (Gnöbe) in my cabin for a little bit afterward. We discussed the possible significance of the number four for Aaniiih people. We also discussed some traditions our people shared. Jessica is and excellent interpreter. Both she and Scott seem to have a tendency to edit some of the interpretations which I don’t like. I appreciate Jessica pointing out that they were in fact discussing first menstration when Scott gave a bit of a makeover to what the younger lady had actually said. I feel it is important to say all of what the Gnöbe are saying even if it is repetitive or even off putting. In oral tradition things are repeated for emphasis and understanding. When elders tell stories among our people much is repeated and they have an tendency to diverge from they storyline. They always bring it bring and back full circle and what seemed like deviations were actually important details that act as infrastructure for the overall message.
No comments:
Post a Comment