Interweaving Coast Salish Cultural Systems: Collected Works of Pamela Thorsen Amoss (Journal of Northwest Anthropology)

Pamela Thorsen Amoss is an important figure in the history of Northwest Coast anthropology. Influenced by Mel Jacobs and Erna Gunther, two students of Franz Boas, the "Father" of American Anthropology, Amoss developed significant relationships with native peoples as she worked to collect ethnographic and linguistic data during the second half of the twentieth century. Much of her research focused on understanding Northwest religions and social structure. Working collaboratively, before collaboration came in vogue, Pam strove to apply her anthropological skills and knowledge to benefit, not just understand, the people. Interweaving Coast Salish Cultural Systems: The Collected Works of Pamela Thorsen Amoss is more than just an assemblage of Pam's major contributions published over a 30-year period. In this volume, Pam contributes new material concerning her life and provides reflections on the native people with whom she worked, the anthropologists who influenced her, and the meaning of her work. These insights, along with letters and experience from her career, provide great insight into the history of Northwest Coast studies.