The transition from shamanism to Russian Orthodoxy in Alaska
Responding to twofold question how did the transition occur; and what were its implications for the ancient cultures? - this thesis places an emphasis upon the transition as an indigenous movement, involving a transformation of the ancient. The primary focus is comprised of the Aleut and Alutiiq peoples who converted virtually as whole nations in the later 18th century. They then maintained this faith themselves within their village structures, a premise that will be substantiated in the Introduction. While a similar ingrafting occurred among other Alaskan peoples as well, an amount of published evidence is available for the Aleuts and Alutiiqs that can render the premise especially secure for them. These other Alaskan peoples - the Yupiit, the ~Ingalik~ Athapascans, the Kolchan Athapascans, the Denaáina Athapascans, the historical Eyak, and the Tlingit have provided corroborative ethnographical and social anthropological material; and the main concepts articulated in this study could potentially be extended to them as well, and extended further to peoples of similar cultures across northern Eurasia who were part of this history (as explained in Chapter 1 and in the epilogue in Chapter 6). [continued in
Mousalimas, Soterios A.
History ; Aleuts ; Religion ; Alutiiqs ; Converts ; Shamanism ; Church history ; Alaska
The transition from shamanism to Russian Orthodoxy in Alaska. Responding to twofold question how did the transition occur; and what were its implications for the ancient cultures? - this thesis places an emphasis upon the transition as an indigenous movement, involving a transformation of the ancient. The primary focus is comprised of the Aleut and Alutiiq peoples who converted virtually as whole nations in the later 18th century. They then maintained this faith themselves within their village structures, a premise that will be substantiated in the Introduction. While a similar ingrafting occurred among other Alaskan peoples as well, an amount of published evidence is available for the Aleuts and Alutiiqs that can render the premise especially secure for them. These other Alaskan peoples - the Yupiit, the ~Ingalik~ Athapascans, the Kolchan Athapascans, the Denaáina Athapascans, the historical Eyak, and the Tlingit have provided corroborative ethnographical and social anthropological material; and the main concepts articulated in this study could potentially be extended to them as well, and extended further to peoples of similar cultures across northern Eurasia who were part of this history (as explained in Chapter 1 and in the epilogue in Chapter 6). [continued in
transition russian orthodoxy responding twofold question transition occur implication ancient culture place_emphasis upon transition indigenous movement involve transformation ancient primary_focus comprise people convert virtually whole nation maintain faith within village structure premise substantiate introduction similar occur among people well amount publish_evidence available render premise especially secure them people historical provide ethnographical social anthropological material main concept articulate study could potentially extend well extend people similar culture across northern eurasia part history explain epilogue continue