Review by Choice Review
This extraordinary, aesthetically attractive volume was published to coincide with the opening of the new Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian on the Mall in Washington, DC. The 300 color illustrations of artworks and religious paraphernalia and copies of historical photographs would, in and of themselves, create a wondrous book. The volume is divided into three major sections: "Our Universe" (traditional knowledge), "Our People" (historical perspectives), and "Our Lives" (contemporary issues). Twenty-one insightful chapters, essays, investigations, and viewpoints by Native American scholars and those with Native American ancestry are integrated with the aforementioned illustrations. The chapters contain significant information about Indian beliefs, ways of life, and responses to historical circumstances. While there is no single publication that can incorporate or acknowledge the hundreds of culture groups (past and present) that have populated the Western Hemisphere, this volume will enrich the lives of those who wish to understand the fascinating "Native Universe." Substantial bibliography. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All professional, public, academic, and personal libraries. N. C. Greenberg Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist 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 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Published in conjunction with the opening of the Smithsonian Institution's new National Museum of the American Indian, this lavishly illustrated work celebrates the past, present, and future of Native peoples in the Americas. Presented with a native perspective, the text is divided into three parts and features contributions from such notables as N. Scott Momaday, Vine Deloria Jr., and Wilma Mankiller. The first part, titled "Our Universes," examines how native groups have maintained their culture and history through oral traditions, dances, and ceremonies. "Our Peoples" soberly examines the history of Native Americans since the arrival of Europeans into the New World. "Our Lives" examines the Native American present, revealing a thriving community. Supplementing the text are more than 300 full-color photographs of art and objects found in the museum collection. This beautiful monograph is highly recommended for all public libraries.-John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
