These oral histories, collected by Marius Barbeau and William Beynon from the Pacific Northwest reflect the Tsimshian relationship with the environment, their understanding of the spiritual universe and their interpretation of the physical world.

These oral histories, collected by Marius Barbeau and William Beynon from the Pacific Northwest reflect the Tsimshian relationship with the environment, their understanding of the spiritual universe and their interpretation of the physical world.

This collection of oral narratives from the Tsimshian Indians of the west coast of British Columbia around Prince Rupert, is illustrated with early photographs and maps, and reflects the close relationship of these people with their environment.

This collection of oral narratives from the Tsimshian Indians of the west coast of British Columbia around Prince Rupert, is illustrated with early photographs and maps, and reflects the close relationship of these people with their environment.

This collection of oral narratives from the Tsimshian Indians of the west coast of British Columbia around Prince Rupert, is illustrated with early photographs and maps, and reflects the close relationship of these people with their environment.

This collection of oral narratives from the Tsimshian Indians of the west coast of British Columbia around Prince Rupert, is illustrated with early photographs and maps, and reflects the close relationship of these people with their environment.

The Tsimshians are a Northwest Coast Native people known for their dazzling works of art and rich array of social, religious, and oral traditions that have captured the attention of scholars for over a century. Jay Miller brings together for the first time a wealth of material about the Tsimshians, presenting an unforgettable picture of their cultural universe. That universe is built around the metaphor of light, which was brought into the world by Raven; its refraction forms the chief social, religious, and symbolic institutions of Tsimshian culture. Family heraldic crests express light in one way, masks in another. Miller argues convincingly that the genius of Tsimshian culture, and one of the main reasons for its continuing vitality, is that its people are sensitive to different, and often creative, ways of capturing and embodying light.