Interpretation
The Tlingit term Íxt’ refers to religious leaders and healers. Often translated to the modern term “shaman,” such practitioners communicated with spiritual “helpers,” usually animals, through trances aided by singing and drumming. Íxt’ were charged with curing illnesses, which were thought to result from an imbalance with the spiritual world or being. They were also responsible for controlling the weather; accompanying and directing war and hunting parties; protecting the community against other shaman; finding lost souls; and dealing with witchcraft.
— Judith Daxootsu Ramos, Assistant Professor, Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Information
- Title
- Íx̱t' (shaman) figure holding a kóoshdaa (land otter)
- Object Number
- ui.2011.154
- Medium
- Wood with paint
- Dates
- before 1885
- Dimensions
- 25.8 × 8.8 × 8.4 cm (10 3/16 × 3 7/16 × 3 5/16 in.)
- Credit Line
- Museum Collection
- Culture
- Native American
Tlingit
- Place collected
- North America, United States, Alaska
- Marks/Labels/Seals
- red "J.261"
- Techniques
- States of Health: Visualizing Illness and Healing (November 2, 2019 –Sunday, February 2, 2020)
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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.
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