North American Indians

This introduction to the North American Indian will have special appeal for readers interested in anthropology, Native American studies, sociology of minorities and American history. The book covers the full range of Native American development, from the first arrival of the Indian on this continent to modern reservation policy issues. It is very readable, answering many of the questions most frequently asked by readers interested in this subject. It answers, for example, questions about popular alternative theories concerning Indian origins, while prompting readers to examine truly significant questions in history and anthropology. The first chapters use both archaeological data and ethnographic analogy to cover the ecological and economic issues of pre-Columbian development. Questions of pre-Columbian belief systems and difficult issues of social organization and kinship systems are extensively covered in the first half of the book. The second half of the book deals with the contact and conflict between Native American and Western cultures, the development of the reservation system, and current through on modern programs and policies. Sympathetic but objective, this is a compelling, authoritative book that readers will enjoy. It offers a thorough understanding of Indian culture and history based on a solid background of anthropological information. -- from dust jacket.