Combining 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 features 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.
Brief Table of Contents List of Tables Preface to the Second Edition 1.Introduction Part I: Native North America 2.A Short History 3.Native Communities Today Part II: The Northeast Iroquois Story of the Origin of the False Faces 4.Native Nations of the Northeast 5.The Mohawks 6.The Mi'kmaqs Part III: The Southeast Choctaw Story of Creation 7.Native Nations of the Southeast 8.The Choctaws Part IV: The Plains 9.Native Nations of the Plains 10.The Teton Lakotas 11.The Hidatsas Part V: The Great Basin 12.Native Nations of the Great Basin 13.The Shoshones Part VI: The Southwest 14.Native Nations of the Southwest 15.The Zunis 16.The Dine (or Navajos) Part VII: California 17.Native Nations of California 18.The Pomos Part VIII: The Plateau 19.Native Nations of the Plateau 20.The Nez Perce Part IX: The Northwest Coast 21.Native Nations of the Northwest Coast 22.The Kwakwaka'wakw (or Kwakiutls) Part X The Subarctic and Arctic 23.Native Nations of the Subarctic and Arctic 24.The Innu (or Montagnais) 25.The Inuit Appendix: Websites for Native Nations in the United States and Canada Credits Index
