Looking both ways : heritage and identity of the Alutiiq people /

This handsome exhibit catalog results from collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution's Arctic Studies Center and the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository in Kodiak, Alaska. Together they produced a traveling exhibit documenting the history and culture of the Alutiiq people of southern Alaska, whose territory extends from Prince William Sound in the east through the southeastern Kenai Peninsula and the Kodiak archipelago to the Alaska Peninsula. The culture is described from historical, anthropological, and archaeological perspectives, as well as from the point of view of the Alutiit themselves. Topics covered include the origins of Alutiiq culture; response of the Alutiit to various catastrophic events, from the initial Russian occupation of the area through the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989; past and present lifestyles, beliefs, and traditions; and the current resurgence of Alutiiq culture. Especially interesting is the consideration of Alutiiq identity, since Alutiiq culture appears to have evolved from several different groups whose historical experiences have led them collectively to identify themselves as Alutiiq. The catalog is a helpful addition to earlier publications, since most previous works examined various constituent groups of people, not the culture as a whole. General and undergraduate collections. M. C. Mangusso University of Alaska Fairbanks

This richly illustrated exhibition catalog is the result of a conscious partnership between anthropologists and the Alutiiq Indians of the southern Alaskan coast and the islands stretching from the Alaskan Peninsula to Prince William Sound. Its purpose is not only to document their cultural heritage but to revitalize a sense of identity that has been fractured by incursions from Russia, Scandinavia, and the United States. The Alutiiq participated in setting research priorities that could help them understand their previous accomplishments and reconstruct forgotten customs. As one craftsman puts it, "I like to feel the flow of ancient characteristics pass through me and express to the world who we were and are." This attractive coffee-table book focuses on material culture, making it most useful for those interested in Indian art. But because it covers archaeology, history, and oral tradition as well, it should both inform scholarly discussion and raise pressing issues. Recommended for museum libraries, high school and junior college libraries, and some senior college and public libraries. Jay H. Bernstein, Fordham Univ. Lib., Bronx, NY Biography (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.