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Yuchi Folklore: Cultural Expression in a Southeastern Native American Community. By Jason Baird Jackson with contributions by Mary S. Linn. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2013. Pp. 207 + xxiv, illustrations, acknowledgements, introduction, notes on usage, afterword, notes, references, index. $24.95 paper.)
In this significant new collection, Jason Jackson offers up eleven of his finest essays on the folklore and expressive culture of the Yuchi, written in an approachable fashion that will appeal to seasoned scholars and the general public alike. Based on long-term fieldwork and composed over the past twenty years, the book offers a compelling look at the folk-life of one of the lesser-known tribes in the United States, whose language is unrelated to any other on the planet. As such, the Yuchi retain a unique memory of an ancient wave of culture that once swept the Eastern Woodlands, the region the Yuchi inhabited before relocation to present-day Oklahoma, where they now represent a small but significant enclave among their Creek neighbors. This minority-within-a-minority status has forced the Yuchi into a position of societal multilingualism for generations. With so many external influences acting upon their culture over the past several centuries, the Yuchi have developed a unique and fascinating folk tradition, which is the focus of this book.
The first chapter offers a broad overview ofYuchi culture, grounding the work in an inclusive conception of folklore that encompasses everything from foodways and technology to architecture, ceremony, and the verbal arts. Those who are not familiar with the Yuchi may wish to consult this chapter as a resource of first resort, especially since Jackson is careful to situate his portrayal of traditional culture alongside a discussion of recent developments, granting the sketch historical depth. Before moving into the...