Product Description This gorgeous volume draws from the vast archives of the National Museum of the American Indian and the voices of some of the most prominent Native American scholars, writers, activists and tribal leaders. More than 300 full-color illustrations depict the artistry and culture of our hemisphere’s diverse indigenous peoples. With its insightful, firsthand prose, the book is a reminder that the ancient philosophies and folkways are just as valuable and relevant in today’s world as they were generations ago. From the Trade Paperback edition. From Publishers Weekly Published for the September 21 opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian on Washington Mall, the three main sections of this majestic book ("Our Universes," "Our Peoples" and "Our Lives") feature more than 300 color illustrations of Native artworks, from Inka to Iroquois, with poems by N. Scott Momaday, Louise Erdrich, Linda Hogan and others; extensive essays on Native mythology, history and identity; and even an excerpt from the Sherman Alexie script for Smoke Signals. The essays, which range from straightforward histories to deeply felt testimonials, are written by a wide range of Native cultural personages, including Wilma Mankiller (the first woman to be elected by the Cherokee Nation as its principal chief), Gabrielle Tayac (daughter of medicine man Chief Turkey Tayac in the Chesapeake Bay region) and Vine Deloria Jr., author of Custer Died for Your Sins. Despite the very generous and impressive selection of art, which even includes three multipage "Portfolios" of ancient, historical and contemporary Native artwork, the visual aspect of the book inevitably comes in second. This is not entirely the editors' fault: the intricacy and incredible range of Native artwork, which here includes both South and North American art, is simply too enormous to share space equally with the absorbing writing. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist *Starred Review* This lavishly illustrated and informative volume coincides with the long-anticipated opening of the Smithsonian's new National Museum of the American Indian, and its comprehensive text is matched with a treasury of art and artifacts from the museum's extensive collection. The first section, "Our Universe," describes the diversity of Native American stories and ceremonies while underlining the profound beliefs shared by all tribes. "Our Peoples" covers historical events from the Native American point of view, including the coming of Columbus, the Revolutionary War, the drafting of treaties, and the establishment of the controversial Indian Schools, and shows how events were chronicled in Native American art, such as a Dakota buffalo robe depicting the measles epidemic of 1818-1819. In "Our Lives," various authors discuss how modern communication and transportation systems help to connect Indian peoples as never before. The volume concludes with a lively selection of modern interpretations of traditional art and stories, thus documenting the growing numbers of Native American artists, writers, and filmmakers. Prodigious in scope and intimate in detail, this book, like the museum it celebrates, is a landmark. Deborah Donovan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Review "It’s cause for celebration when a country known for doing wrong to its indigenous peoples does something right...objects of great beauty from the museum are mixed with historic prints and scenes from modern Indian culture. Most important, the book retells American history from the perspective of those who were here first." —TheWashington Post "This book is a tribute to the long overdue acknowledgment of our rightful place in the Western Hemisphere." —Winds of Change "A fascinating overview of Native American history and traditions...packed with stunning pictures..." —Bookpage "Prodigious in scope and intimate in d
Native Universe: Voices of Indian America
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Author: Trafzer, Clifford E.
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780792259947
Details:
Author: Trafzer, Clifford E.
Brand: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Edition: F First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Number Of Pages: 320
Release Date: 01-09-2004
Package Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.4 x 1.0 inches Languages: English
EAN: 9780792259947
