The People

Through a chronological and ethnographic approach, this narrative surveys American Indian history from the arrival of humans on the American continent to the present day. The text gives balanced attention to political, economic, cultural, and social aspects of Indian history. The People describes how the European invasion influenced American Indian communities, but gives greater attention to the impact of Native actions on the American environment. The text takes an Indian-centered point of view; it sees Indians as actors in their own right, existing in a larger society. Thus, some events in American history loom larger than they would in a general survey, while others, such as Reconstruction, receive minimal coverage. Balanced geographically, the text covers Eastern and Midwestern Indians as well as Western Indians. Indian Voices boxed features consist of oral or written testimony by Native persons. People, Places, and Things features focus on Indian artifacts and photographs and explain their cultural significance and influence on Indian people.