The records are comprised of reports written by Dr. Elizabeth Cass, and examine blindness and eye problems amongst children and adults in the Northwest Territories. There are charts and graphs included in the reports.
The textual records consist of transcripts that contain Dr. Cass' personal observations on the Gwich'in. These observations were made in 1959. Her recollections cover such topics as puberty, religious beliefs, burial customs, personal hygiene, marriage, music and dancing. The audio recordings contain a recording of Dr. Cass in early 1980, dictating letters for her secretary. She discusses her health and her recent trip to Brazil with the International Society of Geographic Opthalmology. She has also recorded many of the Gwich'in stories and legends that were related to her by such individuals as Paul Bonnetplume (Aklavik), Annie McPherson (Fort McPherson), Peter Lord (Old Crow, Yukon), Lazarus Sittichinli, Peter Moses and Edward Snowshoe. Although many of the legends relate to medicine men, Dr. Cass also recounts stories about the Willow Man, the Ungrateful Indian, Sakeethuck the "Trickster," the Crow Who Lost His Beak, the Lazy Boy, three stories about Bushmen [Hare and Slavey Indians] and a two hour saga about two brothers as told to her by Edward Snowshoe.
[Below is an original caption accompanied by an archival description which was documented on a tape featuring Elizabeth Cass. Attached is a transcript of Cass' words which may cause offense because she uses outdated language to describe the Loucheaux (Gwich'in) and Inuit. We have reproduced the original caption and record as is because they are a part of the original historical record. If you have feedback or questions, please contact the NWT Archives].
Transcript of Tape 1 Some Observations on the Loucheux [Gwich'in] Indians, Their Customs and Stories. E.E. Cass, M.D. Includes notes on hunting, birch bark canoes, personal hygiene, rivalry between Inuit and Dene at Fort McPherson in the early twentieth century, and customs associated with puberty, marriage, burial, and music and dancing.
This fonds consists of one DAT audio cassette and 5 cm of textual material. The DAT audio cassette contains a recording of Dr. Cass in early 1980, dictating letters for her secretary. She discusses her health and her recent trip to Brazil with the International Society of Geographic Opthalmology. The textual material consists of transcripts that contain Dr. Cass' personal observations on the Gwich'in. These observations were made in 1959. Her recollections cover such topics as puberty, religious beliefs, burial customs, personal hygiene, marriage, music and dancing. She has also recorded many of the Gwich'in stories and legends that were related to her by such individuals as Paul Bonnetplume (Aklavik), Annie McPherson (Fort McPherson), Peter Lord (Old Crow, Yukon), Lazarus Sittichinli, Peter Moses and Edward Snowshoe. Although many of the legends relate to medicine men, Dr. Cass also recounts stories about the Willow Man, the Ungrateful Indian, Sakeethuck the "Trickster," the Crow Who Lost His Beak, the Lazy Boy, three stories about Bushmen [Hare and Slavey Indians] and a two hour saga about two brothers as told to her by Edward Snowshoe. The remaining textual material consists of reports written by Dr. Elizabeth Cass. The reports examine blindness and eye problems amongst children and adults in the Northwest Territories. There are charts and graphs included in the reports.
Cass, ElizabethTranscript of Tape 7 Loucheux [Gwich'in] Customs and Stories Continued May 21, 1959.
Transcript of Tape 6 Loucheux [Gwich'in] Customs and Stories Continued May 19. 1959.
Transcript of Tape 5 Loucheux [Gwich'in] Customs and Stories Continued. [Story of Sakeethuck from Peter Moses of Old Crow; of Katchukye from Edward Snowshoe of Fort McPherson]
Transcript of Tape 4 Loucheux [Gwich'in] Customs and Stories Continued Tales of the Bushman and the girl (continued) May 10, 1959. [tale of the Brushmen and the Girl continued from tape 3], a story about a young girl at puberty, a story about the Willow Man as related by Peter Lord of Old Crow, a story about an ungrateful Indian, a Loucheaux story about the flood.
Transcript of Tape 3 [No title supplied. This is a continuation of Dr. Cass' observations on the Loucheux [Gwich'in] Indians]. - [Paul Bonnetplume's story continued from tape 2], story related to her by Peter Lord of Old Crow about [Shaheuh ?], story off Peter Lord about Epsi [about a medicine man], a story related by Mrs Martin of Aklavik about a medicine man, a story related by Lazarus Sittichinli, Mrs Martin and Edward Snowshoe about a lazy boy [each story has a different ending], the story of a man who tuned into a caribou, a story related by Edward Snowshoe of Fort McPherson about a boy whose medicine was caribou, three stories about bushmen,
Transcript of Tape 2 Some Observations on the Loucheux [Gwich'in] Indians, Their Customs and Stories - includes notes on medicine men, stories she heard from Annie McPherson, Loucheux medicines, chiefs, brush men (Hare and Slavey), religious beliefs, story of the Boy in the Moon, a story about medicine men related to her by Paul Bonnetplume of Aklavik, and a story by Paul Bonnetplume about the Medicine Man of Peel River [continued on tape 3].
A recording of Dr. Cass in early 1980, dictating letters for her secretary. She discusses her health and her recent trip to Brazil with the International Society of Geographic Opthalmology.
Report written by Dr. Cass on blindness and eye problems amongst Inuit, Dene, and Metis children and adults in the Northwest Territories. There are graphs and charts included in the report.