An Introduction to the mortuary customs of the North American Indians

This compact volume opens a careful, systematic look at the funeral rites of Native peoples across North America, forming the third installment in a series that also explores language, sign communication, and other cultural realms. Written with a strict commitment to objective observation, it invites scholars and curious listeners to gather the voices of the communities themselves, rather than imposing external theories on their sacred practices.

The book walks the listener through every stage of the mortuary process: the respectful handling of the body, the varied burial methods and accompanying ceremonies, the gifts placed with the deceased, and the elaborate mourning customs that may include specific attire, self‑inflicted marks, and communal rites. It also delves into the underlying cosmology, presenting Indigenous explanations of spirits, the afterlife, and the moral meanings attached to death. By documenting these traditions directly from the people who live them, the work offers a rare window into the philosophies and social values that shape their approach to life’s final transition.