First published in 1977 and unavailable for several years, Indian Fishing is more than a sterile account of the technology of fishing; it considers the momentous role of fish and fishing in the lives of the Northwest Coast peoples. A classic, thoroughly researched and informative text, it examines fishing techniques of the peoples who have lived on the coast for over nine thousand years, revealing their rich and complex culture.
Hilary Stewart gathered material from museum archives, fish camps, and coastal village elders to document the Native heritage of handmade hooks, lines, sinkers, lures, floats, clubs, spears, harpoons, nets, traps, rakes, gaffs, and more. With more than 300 clear and detailed drawings, she illustrated how these tools were made and used. She twisted cedar bark and nettle fibers into cod fishing lines, and steam-bent a stem of yew into a halibut hook. Here, reprinted in full, is her original work, covering everything from how the catch was butchered, cooked, and preserved, to the prayers and ceremonies in gratitude to the fish, as well as customs and taboos that demonstrated the peoples’ respect for this life-giving resource. Though there have been transformations in knowledge and scholarship since its first publication, Stewart’s benchmark work, with its usefulness, artistry, and appreciation of Native culture, will be welcomed back into print.
