A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest (Civilization of the American Indian Series) [Paperback]

Robert H. Ruby (Author), John A. Brown (Author)

Book Description

Series: Civilization of the American Indian Series | Publication Date: September 15, 1992

Over the centuries the Indians of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana have adapted their lifeways to their region’s radically different environments-an evolution that in some tribes continues to this day, as they conform to the demands of contemporary American society.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this excursion into historical facts and figures about more than 150 native groups in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the authors give a nutshell history of each group through the eyes of missionaries, explorers, and government officials. A companion volume to their Indians of the Pacific Northwest ( LJ 9/15/81), this is primarily useful for informaton on lesser-known tribes, 20th-century land-claim settlements, and the activities of today's tribal organizations. The information included goes beyond Frederick Hodge's classic Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico (1910; 1975. reprint) and John Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America ( 1952; 1968. reprint). Recommended for public libraries in the Pacific Northwest. Mary B. Davis, Museum of the American Indian Lib., Bronx, New York
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Robert H. Ruby�is a retired physician and independent scholar living in Moses Lake, Washington. Along with John A. Brown, he is coauthor of numerous books, including Indians of the Pacific Northwest: A History.

John A. Brown was Professor Emeritus of History at Wenatchee Valley College, Washington. He is coauthor of numerous books, including Indians of the Pacific Northwest: A History.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press; Revised edition (September 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806124792
• ISBN-13: 978-0806124797
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,055,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prodigious research, February 22, 2005

By 

C. L Wilson (Elmhurst, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest (Civilization of the American Indian Series) (Paperback)

This is not a book that can be read in any linear fashion. For the average lay reader it is primarily useful for the wonderful black-and-white photographs of members of almost every one of the 150 tribes described. And if you want to attend a special event of a particular tribe, the book will have that too. Otherwise, after 10 pages of straight reading, I was just overwhelmed with facts, figures and details, plus locations for which there was no corresponding map in the book, a real detriment, I think. Yes, there is a map showing the areas that the various tribes inhabited, but with no relation to present day locations at all. For the Pacific Northwest Indian student, this should definitely take a place on bookshelves as a reference tool. But for average folk, perhaps one of the many suggested readings would be more appropriate. A great overall encyclopedia of the tribes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for anyone interested in Northwest tribes, September 2, 2003

By 

Chris Henry (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest (Civilization of the American Indian Series) (Paperback)

A fine book with plenty of research to back it up. However, I must point out the book's glaring error - the Cascades Indian tribe is *not* extinct. Many descendants still live on in the Yakama and Warm Springs reservations and in the Columbia River Gorge.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be in every library in the United States, October 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Coupeville WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest (Civilization of the American Indian Series) (Paperback)

Dr. Robert Ruby has done comprehensive research on our heritage.

He and John Brown are the most neglected historians of our time.

Do yourself a favor.

Get to know this author!