Listed alphabetically for easy access, each Native American group
is presented in careful detail, starting with the tribal name, translation,
origin, and definition. Each entry then includes significant facts about the
group's location and population, as well as impressive details about the
history and culture of the group. Bringing each entry up-to-date, Editor Barry
Pritzker also addresses with ease current information on each group's
government, economy, legal status, and reservations. Engaging and precise,
Pritzker's prose makes this extensive work an enjoyable read. Whether he is
giving the court interpretation of the term "tribe" (Many traditional Native
American groups were not tribes at all but more like extended families) or
describing how a Shoeshone woman served as a guide on the Louis and Clarke
expedition, the material is always presented in a clear and lively manner.
In light of past and ongoing injustices and the momentum of Indian and
Intuit self-determination movements, an understanding of these native cultures
as well as their contributions to contemporary society becomes increasingly
important. This book provides all the essential information necessary to fully
grasp the history, culture, and current feelings surrounding North American
Indians. It is not only a compelling resource for students and researchers of
Native American studies, anthropology, and history, but an indispensable guide
for anyone concerned with the past and present situation of the numerous Native
American groups.
- Includes cultural and demographic information from the ancient
past through the present
- Features a pronunciation guide, maps, index, glossary,
bibliographies, and numerous illustrations
Edited by Barry M. Pritzker. Published by Oxford University
Press, 2000. |
