More Puzzles on the Northwest Coast

Abstract

evaluation of fundamental aspects of Northwest Coast ethnography and interpretation. Verne Ray (1956:169) has indicated that some of the limitations in Boas' and Hunt's description of the Kwakiutl should be dealt with more forthrightly and openly by critics who seem to avoid this matter in print. As a matter of fact, Ray might well agree that the reticence of these critics has contributed as much to the confused ethnographic situation in this culture area as have any original distortions or omissions. With this possibility in mind, it seems essential to point out that a comparable situation exists with respect to Swanton's study of the Haida and the Tlingit. According to at least one distinguished expert, errors of some dimension occur in Swanton's descriptions. Perhaps these errors have been considered at length in the cocktail room discussions (ibid.) of the Northwest Coast specialists. In print, however, they have been handled with such delicacy as to leave the Northwest Coast beginner in a quandary regarding the exact status of Swanton's findings. If this silence was observed out of respect for the magnitude of Swanton's contributions in this area, it need not continue. Ray seems to imply that our field is now mature enough to handle revisions in the healthy arena of open controversy. Let us hope that we are now able to dispense with mistaken notions of the role of the scholar and gentleman when we