Hidatsa Eagle Trapping

"Hidatsa Eagle Trapping" is an authoritative ethnographic study by Gilbert Livingstone Wilson that documents the intricate and sacred traditions of the Hidatsa people of North America. This work provides a meticulous account of the spiritual and physical preparations involved in eagle trapping, a practice of deep religious and social significance. Wilson details the construction of the trapping pits, the specific lures used, and the complex rituals and taboos that guided the hunters.

Through direct observation and interviews with tribal members, the author captures the spiritual connection between the Hidatsa and the natural world, particularly the golden eagle. This volume serves as a vital record of Plains Indian culture, preserving the oral histories and traditional ecological knowledge of a community navigating a period of profound transition. It is an essential resource for students of anthropology, Native American history, and those interested in the preservation of indigenous practices and beliefs. The narrative offers a rare glimpse into the specialized skills and traditional lore that defined life on the northern Great Plains, emphasizing the cultural value of the eagle as a symbol of power and ceremony.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.