Description
Book SynopsisCombining historical background with discussion of contemporary Native nations and their living cultures, this comprehensive text introduces students to some of the many indigenous peoples in North America. The book is organized into parts corresponding to regional divisions within which similar, though not identical, cultural practices developed. Each part opens with an overview of the topography, climate, and natural resources in the area, and describes the range of cultural practices and beliefs grounded in the area. Subsequent chapters are devoted to specific tribal groups, their history, and the conditions of contemporary Native communities.
Nancy Bonvillain provides context for the regional and tribe-specific chapters through a brief overview of Native American history beginning around 1500 and covering the early period of European exploration and colonization. She details both U.S. and Canadian policies affecting the lives, cultures, and survival of more than five hundred Native nations on this continent. Finally, she offers up-to-date demographics and addresses significant social, economic, and political issues concerning Native communities.
The second edition featured new material throughout, including a new two-chapter section on the Native nations of the Plateau, expanded introductory material addressing topics such as climate change and recent Supreme Court decisions, up-to-date demographic and economic data, and more.
In this updated and revised new edition, Nancy Bonvillain has expanded and improved the existing text, updating the data with the latest research, and adding a new chapter that discusses contemporary issues that effect and crosscut reservation, national and international boundaries.
Table of ContentsPreface
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: A Short History
Part I: The Northeast
Chapter 3: Native Nations of the Northeast
Chapter 4: The Mohawks
Chapter 5: The Mi’kmaq
Part II: The Southeast
Chapter 6: Native Nations of the Southeast
Chapter 7: The Choctaws
Part III: The Plains
Chapter 8: Native Nations of The Plains
Chapter 9: The Teton Lakotas
Chapter 10: The Hidatsas
Part IV: The Great Basin
Chapter 11: Native Nations of the Great Basin
Chapter 12: The Shoshones
Part V: The Southwest
Chapter 12: Native Nations of the Southwest
Chapter 14: The Zunis
Chapter 15: Navajos
Part VI: California
Chapter 16: Native Nations of California
Chapter 17: The Pomos
Part VII: The Plateau
Chapter18: Native Nations of the Plateau
Chapter 19: The Nez Perce
Part VIII: The Northwest Coast
Chapter 20: Native Nations of the Northwest Coast
Chapter 21: The Kwakwaka’wakw (or Kwakiutls)
Part IX: The Subarctic and Arctic
Chapter 22: Native Nations of the Subarctic and Arctic
Chapter 23: The Innu (or Montagnais)
Chapter 24: The Inuit 2
Chapter 25: Native Communities Today
Chapter 26: Contemporary Challenges
Chapter 27: The Arts, Pop Culture, and Representation
Index
About the Author
