Shamans and Kushtakas

North Coast Tales of the Supernatural

Mary Giraudo Beck

• Publisher: Alaska Northwest Books
• Year: 2003
• ISBN:
  9780882409719
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Native American Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

Shaman and Kushtaka, both struck terror in the hearts of the Tlingit and Haida, for both possessed frightening supernatural powers. Among the Natives of the Pacific Northwest Coast, the shaman was honored as a person who could heal the body and spirit as well as see into the future. In his struggles to protect his people, he fought the kushtaka—an evil spirit-being who was half human and half land hotter—for the souls of dying persons. Theirs was a battle between the forces of good and evil, and today it remains a cornerstone in Tlingit and Haida mythology. Mary Giraudo Beck provides a powerful mix of history, legend, and adventure to dramatize the values and traditions of Tlingit and Haida societies. The heroic and wondrous incidents in these stories transcend time and culture and, as tales of myth and magic, provide compelling reading for young and old alike.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Preface
• Introduction
• How Kaka Won Land Otter Power
• The Challenge
• Land Otter Sister
• Revenge
• Dead Man’s Bride
• Ldaxin the Skeptic
• Xat and the Feather Kite
• Owl Woman
• The Love Charm