National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture

Stories, Timelines, Maps, and More

Look inside
American Indian customs, stories, and history come to life in this important and authoritative reference, artfully designed and packaged for kids and students.

More than 160 tribes are featured in this outstanding new encyclopedia, which presents a comprehensive overview of the history of North America's Native peoples. From the Apache to the Zuni, readers will learn about each tribe's history, traditions, and culture, including the impact of European expansion across the land and how tribes live today. Features include maps of ancestral lands; timelines of important dates and events; fact boxes for each tribe; bios of influential American Indians such as Sitting Bull; sidebars on daily life, homes, food, clothing, jewelry, and games; Did You Know facts with photographs; and traditional Native stories. The design is compelling and colorful, packed with full-color photographs.

To help give kids the lay of the land, this reference is arranged by region, and all federally recognized tribes are included. With nothing comparable available, it is sure to be a valuable resource for kids, students, librarians, and families.
AUTHOR: CYNTHIA O'BRIEN has written numerous nonfiction books for young readers, including works on aboriginal studies and a history of the American Indian during the 1800s. She lives in Ontario, not far from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reservation. REGIONAL CONSULTANTS: ARCTIC AND SUBARCTIC TRIBES: William Fitzhugh (Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, specializes in the peoples and cultures of the circumpolar Arctic); NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST TRIBES: Karenne Wood (member of the Monacan Indian Nation); PLAINS AND SOUTHWEST TRIBES: Theresa Lynn Fraizer (member of the Laguna, Hopi, and Chippewa tribes); GREAT BASIN TRIBES: Catherine Fowler (professor of anthropology emerita University of Nevada, expert on the Great Basin's Native poeples); PLATEAU TRIBES: Anton Treuer (White Earth Ojibwe Nation); PACIFIC NORTHWEST: Janine Ledford (Makah Indian Tribe); CALIFORNIA: Terria Smith (Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians). NATIVE STORIES EXPERT: Dan SaSuWeh Jones (Ponca Nation). GENERAL CONTENT EXPERTS: Herman J. Viola, Ph.D., curator emeritus with the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian Institution and an adopted member of the Crow Nation, is an author and authority on American Indian history and culture as well as the exploration of the American West. Mert Martens, Ph.D., is an education and social studies curriculum consultant and a Fulbright Fellow.
“This encyclopedia fills a gap in the availability of reliable information about indigenous peoples...It was produced under the aegis of expert consultants from each of those regions—experts who are not only members of Native communities but who are also professionally involved in the research, preservation, and documentation of indigenous matters... In sum, this book should be part of every classroom and school library.” -- Booklist starred review


"As there is nothing comparable in publication at this time, especially with the scholarly expertise, cultural sensitivity, and respectfulness on display, this book is sure to be a valuable reference resource for students and teachers who want to learn more about native culture and history." -- School Library Connection


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About

American Indian customs, stories, and history come to life in this important and authoritative reference, artfully designed and packaged for kids and students.

More than 160 tribes are featured in this outstanding new encyclopedia, which presents a comprehensive overview of the history of North America's Native peoples. From the Apache to the Zuni, readers will learn about each tribe's history, traditions, and culture, including the impact of European expansion across the land and how tribes live today. Features include maps of ancestral lands; timelines of important dates and events; fact boxes for each tribe; bios of influential American Indians such as Sitting Bull; sidebars on daily life, homes, food, clothing, jewelry, and games; Did You Know facts with photographs; and traditional Native stories. The design is compelling and colorful, packed with full-color photographs.

To help give kids the lay of the land, this reference is arranged by region, and all federally recognized tribes are included. With nothing comparable available, it is sure to be a valuable resource for kids, students, librarians, and families.

Author

AUTHOR: CYNTHIA O'BRIEN has written numerous nonfiction books for young readers, including works on aboriginal studies and a history of the American Indian during the 1800s. She lives in Ontario, not far from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reservation. REGIONAL CONSULTANTS: ARCTIC AND SUBARCTIC TRIBES: William Fitzhugh (Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, specializes in the peoples and cultures of the circumpolar Arctic); NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST TRIBES: Karenne Wood (member of the Monacan Indian Nation); PLAINS AND SOUTHWEST TRIBES: Theresa Lynn Fraizer (member of the Laguna, Hopi, and Chippewa tribes); GREAT BASIN TRIBES: Catherine Fowler (professor of anthropology emerita University of Nevada, expert on the Great Basin's Native poeples); PLATEAU TRIBES: Anton Treuer (White Earth Ojibwe Nation); PACIFIC NORTHWEST: Janine Ledford (Makah Indian Tribe); CALIFORNIA: Terria Smith (Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians). NATIVE STORIES EXPERT: Dan SaSuWeh Jones (Ponca Nation). GENERAL CONTENT EXPERTS: Herman J. Viola, Ph.D., curator emeritus with the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian Institution and an adopted member of the Crow Nation, is an author and authority on American Indian history and culture as well as the exploration of the American West. Mert Martens, Ph.D., is an education and social studies curriculum consultant and a Fulbright Fellow.

Praise

“This encyclopedia fills a gap in the availability of reliable information about indigenous peoples...It was produced under the aegis of expert consultants from each of those regions—experts who are not only members of Native communities but who are also professionally involved in the research, preservation, and documentation of indigenous matters... In sum, this book should be part of every classroom and school library.” -- Booklist starred review


"As there is nothing comparable in publication at this time, especially with the scholarly expertise, cultural sensitivity, and respectfulness on display, this book is sure to be a valuable reference resource for students and teachers who want to learn more about native culture and history." -- School Library Connection


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