Clyde kluckhohn 19051960 made his major contributions to the social sciences. Survey of the navajo people, second most populous of all native american peoples in the united states, with some 300,000 individuals in the early 21st century, most of them living in new mexico, arizona, and utah. Navaho witchcraft by kluckhohn, clyde and a great selection of. In the late 1980s, the number of days i spent annually on. First published in 1944, clyde kluckhohn s navajo witchcraft offers a comprehensive analysis of witchcraft tradition in navajo culture. First published in 1944, clyde kluckhohns navajo witchcraft offers a comprehensive analysis of witchcraft tradition in navajo culture. In the late 1980s, the number of days i spent annually on the hopi reservation taperecording hopi oral. Regardless of whether these individuals are said to use psychic power or magic to do their work, whether they do harm intentionally or not, or whether they are born with these powers or have to learn them, they are often feared or reviled by members of their. Dec 11, 2014 the witchery way is the best known form of navajo witchcraft and, much like other ways, it is handed down by the elders of the tribe to those who want to learn it. Hopi stories of witchcraft, shamanism, and magic by ekkehart. As the main research source, 93 informants were interviewed by kluckhohn. Among the sample, 76 people were men, 71 individuals were over fifty years old. According to our hypothesis that witchcraft accusations are signs of difficult social relationships, we might want to examine differences in interpersonal relationships in the two groups. Occult phenomena in general, and witchcraft in particular, are on the rise in our culture as a wave of neopaganism crashes on the shores of contemporary western thought and life.
One wonders if the wide spread distribution of dene effected the diversity. He wrote two popular books based on his experiences in navajo country, to the. Here is my summary of kluckhohns navajo witchcraft. In fact, navajo witchcraft, is simply another aspect or set of ways within the existing navajo spiritual culture. This is an ethnography of clyde kluckhohn of witchcraft of navaho. An excellent person, he wisely recognized his own limitations and those of his book. Other articles where navaho witchcraft is discussed. So too, clyde kluckhohn noted, witches were feared by the navajo, as they were, melford spiro wrote, in burma. Dine or naabeeho are a native american people of the southwestern united states at more than 300,000 enrolled tribal members as of 2015, the navajo nation is the secondlargest federally recognized tribe in the u. January 11, 1905 in le mars, iowa july 28, 1960 near santa fe, new mexico, was an american anthropologist and social theorist, best known for his longterm ethnographic work among the navajo and his contributions to the development of theory of culture within american anthropology. The sorcery way during ceremonies, the victims have their personal objects or body parts, such as hair, buried. Witchcraft is defined by clyde kluckhohn 190560 as the influencing of events by supernatural techniques that are socially disapproved, and his description and analysis of navaho ideas and actions related to witchcraft illuminate the ways in which society deals with the ambition for power, the aggressiveness, and the anxiety of its members. This is meant to be a study guide to the night side, a nonchristian dogma infested approach. Based on where the storyteller is from the story will adapt to the current times and geography in order to stay alive.
This is why at boarding schools navajo youth are quick to hide toothbrushes, use separate towels, never use a brush to comb hair etc. Witchcraft is a timely, wellresearched contribution to the ongoing struggle about religious ideas currently being waged in our society. The term witchcraft doesnt accurately apply because this form navajo spirituality has little to do with the practices and beliefs of a european style, or form of witchcraft. In his 1944 book navajo witchcraft, anthropologist clyde kluckhohn lists the four ways of the navajo witch as follows. His main publication was navajo witchcraft 1944, in which he argued that witchcraft served to channel tensions caused by pressures exerted from the wider society in the united states. Among the nupe, the general picture is one of antagonism between men and women, reflected in the fact that witches are always women and men have the ability. This book is really good for anyone interested in black magick according to the navaho tradition which is also very similar to the apache tradition. In the last part of the myth of the great star chant, when the sacred company are journeying for power, they go first to coyote. The theoretical approaches to witchcraft taken by j. The definitive book on adishgash is clyde kluckhohns navaho witchcraft. Navaho witchcraft by clyde kluckhohn link to read this is the only book that i believe exists on the topic outside of the personal. This prayer, along with other texts and a volume of information about the night chant ceremony, was transcribed and edited during the 1890s by an army physician and self. The methods of witchcraft within this tome are of the darkest magick, when vampires, werewolves and sorcerers haunted the nights, doing. Wyman, and navaho witchcraft 1944, which is considered his finest work.
Inamerican indian myths and legends, selected and edited by richard erdoes and alfonso ortiz new york. Kluckhohn began collecting reports of navajo witchcraft in the late 1930s gathering data from many individuals. Kluckhohn, clyde 190560 an american anthropologist who taught at harvard university and whose writings combined elements of anthropology and psychology. There seems to be a strict taboo around speaking of those who practice the witchery way, and very few, if any navajo will acknowledge the subject to outsiders. While medicine men and healers of the tribe symbolize good, these shapeshifting witches represent evil. Each form of witchcraft is based on death, with the witchery way focused on corpses. Sage business cases real world cases at your fingertips. Sage reference the complete guide for your research journey. Cq press your definitive resource for politics, policy and people. Navaho witchcraft by clyde kluckhohn book 52 editions published. Witchery way focuses on corpses in all of their rituals and ceremonies. Skinwalkers and the witchery way our strange planet.
The navajo speak an apachean language which is classified in the athabaskan family. But life among the navajo clans was not all given to labor, strife, and raiding. While there are many selfpublished books and websites that. The belief that some individuals have supernatural powers allowing them to harm others is present in many societies around the world. In his navaho witchcraft 1944, perhaps one of his finest works, kluckhohn. Clyde kluckhohn studied navaho noted positive social effects. The witchery way during their rituals, navajo practitioners of witchcraft focus on corpses. The skinwalker, while most commonly male, may be of either gender some are even transvestites. Throughout navajo mythology, mahih the coyote, is a figure of central importance.
Coyote of navajo mythology legend twin rocks trading post. The navajo speak an apachean language which is classified in the athabaskan language family. The witchcraft of women is controlled through secret activities of the men. First published in 1944, clyde kluckhohns navajo witchcraft offers a. Sorcery way involves burying a victims personal objects or body parts like hair during ceremonies. Clyde kluckhohn, in his classic 1944 work, navaho witchcraft quoted in the lore of new mexico, edited by marta weigle and peter white, albuquerque. The wizardry way foreign objects like poison or cursed darts are injected into the victim. Peabody museum of american archaeology and ethnology, harvard university, i944. Navaho witchcraft by kluckhohn, clyde and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Abstractresume coyote is a key figure in navajo mythology, representing both good and evil, humans and gods, and of course animals. Kluckhohn, clyde, queer customs this article describes in great detail the different customs and practices that people around the world engage in.
An introduction to wayschantways legend twin rocks. In american indian myths and legends, selected and edited by richard erdoes and alfonso ortiz new york. Navaho witchcraft by clyde kluckhohn book 53 editions published. According to his informants, navajo witches practice sympathetic magic spells and effigies. Another example, from the 1944 booknavajo witchcraft by clyde kluckhohn, states. The most well known navajo witches are called skinwalkers. January 11, 1905 in le mars, iowa july 28, 1960 near santa fe, new mexico, was an american anthropologist and social theorist, best known for his longterm ethnographic work among the navajo and his contributions to the development of theory of. Kluckhohn, c 1944, navaho witchcraft, beacon press, boston. Krige 1947 in reference to the lovedu, monica wilson 1951 in her comparison of the mpondo of south africa with the nyakyusa, and siegfried frederick nadel 1952 in his comparison of four west african peoples are of a more psychological orientation, showing varying degrees of. Clyde kluckhohn is the author of navaho witchcraft 3. According to clyde kluckhohns navaho witchcraft, skinwalkers represent the opposite of navajo values.
As one informant remarked, people dont tell about these things. Take the classic monograph on navaho witchcraft 1944 by harvard anthropologist clyde kluckhohn, who lived on the navajo reservation, learned the navajo language, and studied their traditions. An introduction to wayschantways legend twin rocks trading. As mentioned earlier, the skinwalker is a type of shapeshifting witch that uses enchanted animal hides to initiate a transformation into any animal that they desire, but the most common animal forms taken by the skinwalker are those of a wolf, a coyote, a fox, a dog, a cougar, a bear, a crow, or an. He gathered his information in the 1940s by picking up navajo hitchhikers and broaching the subject in an offhand, joking sort of way. Whether in the compendium malifecarum, the malleus malifecarum, or more recent ethnographies, what has. Sorcery according to kluckhohns usage is essentially enchantment by spell, either. Sage books the ultimate social sciences digital library. The frenzy way charms are used that influence victims mental or emotional states. Hopi stories of witchcraft, shamanism, and magic by. The principal reason that so little is known of navaho witchcraft is the extreme reluctance of the indians to discuss the matter. A reference work on navajo material culture, organized by the categories of. I have read and accept the wiley online library terms and conditions.
Inside skinwalker ranch, a hotspot for ufos and evil witches. Hopi ethnography and the study of paleoart in the form of rock engravings and rock paintings. Jan 02, 2017 in fact, navajo witchcraft, is simply another aspect or set of ways within the existing navajo spiritual culture. According to kluckhohn, where does the hostility and anxiety come from. Sage video bringing teaching, learning and research to life. Witchcraft is defined by clyde kluckhohn 190560 as the influencing of events by supernatural techniques that are socially disapproved, and his description. The main theme that permeates throughout this whole article is that even though our cultures may seem different, they are guided by the same biological forces. Black cloth spine with patterned paper over boards, blind embossed decoration of front cover. He goes into good detail in regards to the types of witchcraft practiced out here so hed be an excellent source for navajo witchcraft. Dec 02, 2015 take the classic monograph on navaho witchcraft 1944 by harvard anthropologist clyde kluckhohn, who lived on the navajo reservation, learned the navajo language, and studied their traditions.
How does catherine orensteins book, little red riding hood uncloaked, demonstrate how tales adapt to the times in which they are told and the culture in which they are told. Kluckhohns monograph on navaho witchcraft is not only an important contribution to the ethnology of the navaho but also to the as yet not fully studied subject of witchcraft. This book is really good for anyone interested in black magick according to the navaho. As an anthropologist, kluckhohn was interested in understanding the misunderstanding within cultures to possibly avoid conflicts because he was horrified of the violence and destruction of humans has done during the world wars. A good book to read would be clyde kluckhohns navaho witchcraft. Navaho witchcraft by clyde kluckhohn and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Kluckhohn continues his study of navah behaviorism in. According to most modern descriptions, this seems to be the only real determinant. Dec 02, 20 kluckhohn, clyde, queer customs this article describes in great detail the different customs and practices that people around the world engage in. The harvard anthropologist, clyde kluckhohn, did a book, navaho witchcraft boston.
Apr 15, 2020 according to clyde kluckhohns navaho witchcraft, skinwalkers represent the opposite of navajo values. The specific focus of hopi stories of witchcraft, shamanism, and magic was inspired by two separate strands of my research life that have become ever more interwoven during the last ten years. At some point in prehistory the navajo and apache migrated to the southwest from canada, where most other athabaskanspeaking peoples still live. Anthropology exam 1 at northern arizona university studyblue. Peabody museum of archaeology and ethnology, harvard university, 1944.