The Encyclopedia of North American Indians [Hardcover]

D. L. Birchfield (Other Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761402276 | ISBN-13: 978-0761402275 | Publication Date: January 1997

A comprehensive reference work on the culture and history of Native Americans.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up--Finally, a comprehensive and thorough encyclopedia about Native American life, history, and culture. This superbly executed, multivolume set covers an impressive range of topics, from the Arctic to South America and from pre-Columbian times to as recent as 1995. Nearly two-thirds of the 60 contributors are Native writers from a variety of backgrounds, and the articles reflect this viewpoint. Organized alphabetically, entries range from a few paragraphs to several pages. Articles cover individual tribes; biographical sketches of Indians and non-Indians whose lives intersected with Native peoples; organizations past and present; significant events in Indian history; and broader topics such as children, ceremonial regalia, toys, and Indian activism. There are entries for each U.S. state and Canadian province, describing each political entity's relationship with its Native inhabitants, past and present. Latin America is also included, although not in the same detail as North America. Each article (many signed) contains cross-references and often sources for further reading. The abundant, striking, color photographs have helpful captions. Volume 1 presents a clear introduction and list of contributors. Volume 11 has several comprehensive indexes: Historic and Archaeological Sites; Legislation, Treaties, and Court Decisions; Nations and Tribes; People (subdivided by occupation); and states and provinces. The extensive appendixes provide a wealth of information. Although there are good books for this age group on individual tribes, this outstanding encyclopedia is much more comprehensive and accurate than anything else around, setting a new benchmark for reference materials for young people about Native Americans. An outstanding reference tool.

Lisa Mitten, University of Pittsburgh, PA

Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Birchfield (American Indian Program, Cornell Univ.) and 56 other contributors (almost 40 of whom are Native American writers from a variety of backgrounds) have endeavored to balance the version of Native American history and culture found in similar works by making "a conscious effort to engage their subjects from an 'Indian' vantage point." The result is a lavishly illustrated encyclopedia providing a multicultural perspective that will enhance the juvenile or general reference collections of any library. (Targeted to middle-school through young adult readers, the book achieves a higher reading level and would be useful to many adult readers.) Unfortunately, this reference tool also has some flaws. Many of the articles are unsigned, and most lack suggestions for further reading. Those that do tend to recommend adult-level books, many of which are appropriate for upper-level undergraduates in academic institutions. Despite these shortcomings, this work provides an important perspective lacking in most titles about Native Americans. Recommended for school and public libraries that can afford the price. For the more budget-minded, the outstanding Encyclopedia of North American Indians (LJ 12/96) is a bit more scholarly but, at $45, affordable.?John Burch, Cumberland Coll. Lib., Williamsburg, Ky.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1536 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corporation (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761402276
• ISBN-13: 978-0761402275
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,945,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)