Native Nations: Cultures and Histories of Native North America
PrefaceThis book presents an intensive discussion of the cultures, histories, and contemporary lives of members of the First Nations of North America. Following an introduction (Chapter One), is an overview (Chapter Two) of historical processes that have affected indigenous peoples since about 1500. Both Chapters One and Two discuss the complexity of population statistics that in the past and present have seriously undercounted Native communities and individuals. The book is thereafter divided into eight regional parts (Northeast, Southeast, Plains, Great Basin, Southwest, California, Northwest Coast, and Subarctic and Arctic). Each part begins with an overview chapter followed by one (or in some cases two) chapters that deal in detail with a First Nation within the region. The book concludes (Chapter Twenty-three) with a review of contemporary indigenous economic and political issues and also summarizes current economic and social data collected by the governments of Canada and the United States.I wish to express my thanks to the following Prentice Hall reviewers for their useful comments on the manuscript: Stephen Greymorning, University of Montana; Timothy J. Kloberdanz, North Dakota State University; Sally McBeth, University of Northern Colorado; Martha McCullough, University of Nebraska; and Dean Snow, Pennsylvania State University. I also wish to thank Nancy Roberts, Publisher, and Sharon Chambliss, Managing Editor for anthropology, for their encouragement and advice throughout the process of bringing this book to completion. I appreciate the patience and excellent work of Cathy Dargi, who transcribed and typed the early draft of the book. And I thank Marc Melanson of Statistics Canada, Halifax, for his aid in obtaining linguistic, social, and economic data for First Nations Mi'kmaq, Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl), and Innu (Montagnais) bands.My deep appreciation goes to the people at Akwesasne for the personal and intellectual support that I have always received there. I am especially grateful to Gloria Thompson, Ernest Benedict, Beatrice Francis, and their families, as well as to Hilda Swamp for the many days over many years spent in their company. My admiration goes to them and others at Akwesasne who have led and participated in many struggles for cultural and political sovereignty. It is to them that this book is dedicated.