Historical near-death and reincarnation-intermission experiences of the Tlingit Indians: Case studies and theoretical reflections.
Journal of Near-Death Studies 2017 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-2017-35-4-p215-242 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Comparative historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Tlingit Indians of southeastern Alaska (six NDEs and three IEs recorded 1880s–1950s), compared with other Amerindian peoples and small-scale societies |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Key points | Argues that Tlingit NDEs and IEs share structural features with each other and with accounts from other Amerindian and small-scale societies, including spirit roles and material-world perceptions at all stages. The author contends these congruencies support the notion that consciousness separates from the body during NDEs and proposes a model of survival to explain consistencies and cultural variations. |
Abstract
Six neardeath experiences (NDEs) and three reincarnationintermission experiences (IEs) recorded between the 1880s and the 1950s among the Tlingit Indians of the southeastern Alaskan panhandle are compared to NDEs and IEs reported from other Amerindian peoples and are shown to have many features in common with them. Tlingit and other Amerindian NDEs are also similar to NDEs from smallscale societies elsewhere in the world. NDEs and IEs share structural similarities and feature human and nonhuman spirits in similar roles. Perceptions of the material world are reported during all stages of both NDEs and IEs. These congruencies support the notion that consciousness separates from the body during NDEs. The implications of this conclusion for understanding the nature of discarnate states of consciousness are explored, and a model of survival that explains consistencies as well as individual and cultural variations in NDEs and IEs is proposed.