Recycling the soul : death and the continuity of life in the Coast Salish burial practices
Date
2002
Authors
McKay, Kathrynb
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Abstract
The death rituals of a culture define the interaction between the world of the living and the land of the dead. This thesis examines how the Coast Salish depict this connection through an analysis of both archaeological and historical evidence and Coast Salish oral histories and interviews. I maintain that there are continuities which can be traced from the earliest midden burials of the "prehistoric" era, through the time of contact and the missionary period, into the present time. These practices illustrate that in the Coast Salish culture the perception of community extends beyond the grave. This connection is characterized by the practice of feeding the dead which has been an important component of Coast Salish practice for thousands of years. This thesis also discusses some of the changes that have occurred over time and the forces which motivated the Coast Salish to modify their customs.