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Summary
Summary
North American Indians are not merely a historical topic. Instead, today's Native Americans are living, productive members of North American society. The contributions of the various Indian cultures enrich our lives in countless ways. For instance, "Indians have the strongest sense of place of anyone in the world," says Amy Mossett, a Native scholar (quoted in the New York Times). This sense of place is reflected in American Indians' connection to the Earth, an intimate relationship that has concrete implications for the way we handle environmental issues. Indians' connection to the traditions of their ancestors is also strong. At the same time, however, Native Americans are modern people confronting the challenges of today's world. They gain strength for the present from their deep foundations in the past. What's more, Native traditions and wisdom have much to offer us all. North American Indians Today portrays contemporary Indians within the present-day context of their relationship to their land, their past, their traditions, and their 21-st century realities. The heritage and history of each tribe is given as background to chapters on the current government, society, culture, religion, contributions, challenges, and goals of each tribe. Each volume was written with the help of Native people, and tribal leaders and scholars reviewed and approved the text for their tribes. The series consultant, a Native American expert from the University of Nebraska, ensured that the text is free from cultural bias. This series' respectful and accurate text, as well as the color photographs and Native artwork, will give readers a broader understanding of today's North American Indians, theirconnection to their land and their past, and their contributions to our modern-day world.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-It's so refreshing to read books about Native nations in which the history is only one chapter and the rest is devoted to the present day. All three titles contain the same introduction that explains the series, discusses stereotypes, and examines the use of the word Indian. Each volume covers religion, government, and the arts. Featuring interviews with various members of each nation, these books also discuss important issues facing the people. A few minor flaws appear. The discussion of religion in Ojibwa could cause some confusion. Likewise, there is some lack of clarity when the author tries to distinguish individual Iroquois nations from the larger Six Nations Confederacy. Cheyenne has a few blurry photos scattered throughout the otherwise crisp, high-quality, color pictures. Some historical photos are also included. Iroquois includes some pronunciations within the text, but Cheyenne and Ojibwa do not. However, considering the lack of significance that most other books about Native nations place on the present, the flaws in these titles are small indeed. Overall, these quality offerings bring information about Native Americans into the modern age.-S K Joiner, Brazoria County Library System, Angleton, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
\deflang1033\viewkind4\uc1d\f0\fs24 Gr. 6-9. This title in the new North American Indians Today series examines one of our continent's largest tribes--The Navajo Nation, with over 250,000 enrolled tribal members--and explains how a major Native American culture continues to thrive today despite a history marked by warfare, slavery, disease, and forced migrations since its first contact with Europeans. Balancing tribal history and creation stories with contemporary tribal culture and government, the author shows how the Navajo are recovering their lands and promoting their cultural heritage through language, ceremonies, and traditional practices. The text's folksy tone, while accessible, is sometimes vague and confusing. In addition, no source notes are given, and the many color photos of contemporary art, facilities, and tribal members at work are not always well placed to complement the text. Students seeking a basic introduction to the Navajo, though, will find this a useful starting point. A further reading list, Web sites for more information, and a glossary are appended. --Ray Olson Copyright 2004 Booklist
Table of Contents
Oral traditions |
History |
Current government |
Contemporary Ojibwa/Chippewa religion |
Social structures today |
Ojibwa/Chippewa arts |
Contributions to the world |
Challenges for today, hopes for tomorrow |