Booklist Review

The third edition of the UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes is a comprehensive set that details tribe information divided by region. More than 100 tribes and tribal groups are featured over five volumes. Each volume contains the same resources: an index of tribe names, a glossary, a time line of relevant historic events, and maps complete the quick-reference section in the beginning of each volume. An excellent Where to Learn More section more than 50 pages of further resources, including books, periodicals, and websites ends each volume, along with a detailed index of main topics and subtopics of tribes and historic events. Volumes comprise geographic areas Northeast and Subarctic;Southeast and Great Plains; Southwest; California and Plateau; and Great Basin, Pacific Northwest, and Arctic) and begin with overviews of each region which give a glimpse of what the land and resources were like prior to the arrival of Europeans. The overviews also offer a quick history of changes that took place once European settlers arrived up to the present, including the losses and restructuring of tribes based on the spread of disease, alliances, wars, and treaties. The end of each regional introduction includes questions for readers to consider while seeking information. The layout for each tribal entry remains consistent throughout the encyclopedia set, consisting of information on tribal origin, history, religion, language, government, economy, daily life, arts, customs, and current tribal issues. Regional maps and photos are spread throughout the text to help readers understand the information and gain context. Specific tribes and tribal subsets are included in this set, featuring many lesser-known tribes not included in general encyclopedias. The reading level of the text is accessible for a wide range of users, making this set a good purchase for schools or public libraries with students doing moderate to serious research on Native American tribes. This edition adds 25 new entries to the previous edition, and while libraries needing to update their Native American materials in general will want to consider this source, it may be cost prohibitive for casual purchase.--Ranucci, Blaire Copyright 2010 Booklist