Product Description
A riddle is a question with a surprising answer. A poem is an unexpected view of the world around us. Combine the two, and you have this collection of twenty-two riddle-poems gathered from Native American sources by Brian Swann, a preeminent scholar, poet, and collector of riddles from around the globe. With stunning illustrations, this remarkable book encourages all to see the world anew. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Intriguing book
Liked this book. Read the poems and my kids as well as myself tried to figure out what the poem was about. My 4 1/2 yr old figured out the hardest one. Answers at back of book. Beautiful artwork and enjoyable interactive reading with family. ... Read more

Product Description
Here's a rare view back in time to when the West was truly wild, all brought to life with three-dimensional photographs that make you feel as if you are actually there: cowboys driving cattle on the range, Wild West towns, the Grand Canyon and other landmarks, and Native Americans from the Pacific Northwest with their totem poles to Southwestern pueblo cities and prairie teepees. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Spectacular 3D
I really love this book. The viewer is built into the front cover, so you hold that up while you turn the pages. You have to relax your eyes and then all of a sudden they kick in and you are seeing wonderful 3D images of the past. I went through the whole book right away but I know it is one that I will be getting out every so often to see the pictures again. I also have the other 5 of these books and have enjoyed all of them. I highly recommend this book if you want to see wonderful 3D images.

takes you back
These photos take you back more than any movie ever could. You are looking at the real people in the same viewing method used at the time. We leave them on the coffee table, everyone picks them up and is enthralled.

Living history for an excellent price
All of the books in this series are great. As a stereocard maker and enthusiast, I was excited about the release of these books.
Good points: Excellent price! Excellent construction with the fold out viewer in the cover and excellent graphics giving it an 'antique' feel. Some very rare views are presented that would cost a fortune to purchase. The descriptions originally printed on the card's verso are reproduced here on the preceding page to each image so that they can be viewed and read all at once... And, did I mention the excellent price?
Weak points: Some cards which already suffered from poor image quality are made 'grainy' by the halftone printing. A few of the images are not in 3D. A few images have the left and right images reversed. While the original cards may have been this way, the least they could have done was correct them or note the error in the descriptions.
Still, these few and minor weaknesses do not detract from the overall quality of the books. Nothing can really describe seeing historical moments and people in 3D.These books should be in classrooms. I look forward to the next 2 releases in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
Beautifully illustrated in full color by a Native American artist, this unique book teaches children the hand signals that Native American tribes used to communicate with one another. Fascinating information includes how to ask a question; how to express past, present, and future; and how each signal related to the daily life of Native American tribes. Age 8-12. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Native signs
This is a good book for any person wanting to know signs from the Native Americans. very interesting

good reference
My daughter loves this book and finds the directions very easy to follow. ... Read more

Product Description
Timeless words of wisdom from Native American leaders such as Chief Seattle and Chief Joseph accompany evocative photographs in a beautifully designed miniature edition of Curtis' classic work. Full color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a [very] brief sample of 1000s of years of wisdom
This beautiful little gift book is perfect as teacher gifts, for business associates or as a stocking-stuffer sized add-on.Curtis' photos are historical, and the quotes chosen can be used in many situations, ranging from greeting cards to speeches.

poor preview of product
I do not actually own this book and probably will not.I was looking to see info on what is in the book pictures, quotes and so forth very little is given as an example.I am interested in this subject but will not buy something that may be poor quality it could also be very good but I don't/cant tell by what little is given as a preview. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Beautiful beadwork
The history of Native American beadwork is interestingly written; the illustrations are beautiful and the projects are easy to follow. All in all, it's a beautiful little book.

Very good instruction, good range of projects
I have this book as well as Theresa Geary's Creative Native American Beading book (Creative Native American Beading). Both are very good and in several respects interchangeable - not in the individual projects, of course, but in approach, quality, in the ranges of difficulty of the projects, etc. Both are project-centered books, have excellent full-color photos throughout, and have clear directions, advice on beads, needles, thread/wire, tensioning, tie-off, and other relevant techniques. I particularly like that Geary gives specific advice on topics like attaching beadwork panels to fabric and leather. That said, I wouldn't necessarily recommend either of these books to a new beader. Although easy projects are included, there just isn't enough handholding beginners information to start someone out cold from a book here.

The author is Native American and was traditionally taught. As with Geary's Creative Native American Beading book, I bought this one for one specific project. And, like the other, it's unfortunate that Amazon does not have a "look inside" for this book, as there is a range of projects presented in both type and difficulty level. Any buyer would be amply repaid for the price of the book by completing even one.

Just What I Wanted
Because I could preveiw this book on Amazon, it met my expectation when it arrived.It was shipped quickly and arrived in excellent condition.Really easy to do business.

Excellent on technique
This book is excellent for describing technique.It's easy to follow and do.There are lots of interesting patterns and techniques you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

There is nothing traditional about what is described here.These are techniques for modern dodads and keychains.Still, it's great fun.

The Native American motif is a plus
There are some good books on techniques and materials in the shelves out there. The there is a lot of kitsch out there that makes beading look like a second class skill or hobby.

This book excels in making beading a first class art. Although the Projects and techniques say they are from the Southwest, they are universal. The symbols do focus on the San Carlos Apache tribe. The finished product would be Worthing of giving as gifts or placing on the mantle:
Sonora-weave Choker
Netted Gourd
Floral Bracelet
Bone-hair-pipe Bracelet
Leather medicine gag
Triple-strand fetish necklace
Bear earrings
Comanche-weave feather
Chile Pepper
Corn-stitch earrings
Phoenix key ring
Kokopelli amulet bag
Netted basket
Flat round peyote basket
Powwow perfume bag
Navaho bead rug
Kokopelli pin
Medicine wheel

The book also contains information on Native American beadwork from the Southwest. Native American Spirituality. And a pretty good glossary.

Of course everyone will have their favorite; mine is Netted Basket.

... Read more

Product Description
As biological diversity continues to shrink at an alarming rate, the loss of plant species poses a threat seemingly less visible than the loss of animals but in many ways more critical.In this book, one of America's leading ethnobotanists warns about our loss of natural vegetation and plant diversity while providing insights into traditional Native agricultural practices in the Americas. This edition features a new foreword by Miguel Altieri, one of today's leading spokesmen for sustainable agriculture and the preservation of indigenous farming methods. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Things we need to heed!
Paul Nabhan's latest book is a delight to read. His clear writing style and effective way of illustrating important points gives the reader a pleasant break from the more technical books on the topic of seed evolution and dispersion. But don't be deceived by its ease of reading, the book is full of facts about early native agricultural practices in North and Central America, contains warnings about our loss of natural vegetation, especially rain forests, and tells of our rapid loss of plant diversity.

Dr. Nabhan is the cofounder of an organization called Native Seeds and is currently Assistant Director of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. In these dual roles he has had ample opportunity to observe what is happening to our natural vegetation and to record how the diversity of plants in our world continues to shrink at an alarming rate.

His book is divided into a series of chapters each with names intended to draw the reader's interest. Examples include: "Turning Foxholes into Compost Heaps," "Drowning in a Shallow Gene Pool," and "Invisible Erosion." Each of his 12 chapters focuses on an important point. The first one presents an interesting history of plant evolution from the earliest Paleozoic times through the late Cenozoic and explains how the large, plant gene pool created the wonderful diversity we have all come to enjoy. In the next several chapters Dr. Nabhan first addresses the great diversity of plants found in forests of the wet and dry tropics and next speaks about how this great diversity led to the emergence of many cultigens we now depend upon for our staples. He also points with alarm to how rapidly this diversity is being lost as large areas are converted to agricultural lands or are clear cut for their lumber. Other chapters focus on the need for saving examples of seeds from plants that are becoming extinct and the advantages in tropical areas of using local plant species and local farming techniques instead of introduced hybrid plants and "modern" agricultural techniques. In later chapters Dr. Nabhan chronicles the demise of wild rice in the Great Lakes region, the near loss of a species of rare gourd in Florida, and why the production of maize in many areas of the northern Great Plains is not nearly as great today as it was in past generations. Finally, he offers a word of caution to plant geneticists saying that they could learn a lot from looking at the problems associated with the raising of domestic turkeys.

The main theme of Dr. Nabhan's book focuses on the need for plant diversity and how the maintaining of a wide gene pool for each species is critical for the survival of each species. All of this, he cautions, has direct effects upon mankind because many of these plants form elements of our primary food supply. Throughout the book the author inserts brief warnings for the reader to ponder. On page 27, for example, the author notes the prevailing attitude among many plant geneticists. He quotes one of them as saying, "If we need rare strains to breed a stronger variety of grain in the event of an epidemic, we go out and collect them." The problem, as Dr. Nabhan notes, is that already for many plants there are no longer wild strains to use. ... Read more

Product Description

Glencoe's new collection of ethnic anthologies gives students access to a wealth of literature written by some of the best classic authors and the finest contemporary voices. Each anthology, organized thematically into five relevant themes, combines literature and art as powerful expressions of the group's cultural story. Glencoe Native American Literature features the works of writers like William Least Heat-Moon, Leslie Marmon Silko, Michael Dorris, N. Scott Momaday, and many more!

Product Description
Full-color maps, historical photographs, and a lively text trace--chronologically and geographically--the diversity of native American cultures, from Alaska to the Andes and beyond. ... Read more

Product Description
A dazzling variety of Native American dolls--from prehistoric ceramic figures to striking contemporary creations by Inuit and Pueblo artists--fills the pages of Small Spirits. These miniature forms have played rich and diverse roles in indigenous cultures from antiquity to the present, serving as toys and learning tools for children, sacred and magical figurines, props and performers in drama and dance, and, in recent years, items manufactured for sale. Some dolls today are created as artworks and coveted by collectors.

Stunning full-color images portray the beauty and craftsmanship of the dolls, from the simplest toy made of sticks and cloth scraps to the exquisitely dressed replica of a woman in her finest regalia. Each offers a glimpse into a particular cultural world--Navajo, Cree, or Tapirape--and into the mind of an individual maker. The great variety of form and materials--such as walrus tusk ivory, cornhusks, and beeswax embellished with the brilliantly colored feathers of tropical birds--reflects the vibrancy and range of Native American lifeways.

Mary Jane Lenz's insightful, authoritative text offers a lively discussion of the intriguing roles that dolls have played in Native American cultures and explores their significance today, while carefully chosen historical photographs bring to life the people who made and used these remarkable creations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Big book on small spirits
This expanded version of a previous publication on Indian dolls from the Heye Foundation collections has beautiful illustrations, and excellent text content. My only wish is that more photographs of the extensive collections at what is now NMAI would have been included, particularly from the Plains areas. I would have opted for a few fewer large format photos in exchange for more smaller ones.

Small Spirits
Great book for helping to identify lots of Native American dolls from Tierra del Fuego to Pt. Barrow. ... Read more

Product Description
It's a weird world out there... dazzle your friends with wacky facts and more from this mega new series.Did you know... Navajo parents rubbed spider webs into their daughters' hands to make them skilled weavers.Northeastern Native Americans fried their food with just flat stones and a little raccoon fat.A full-color, fun, and informative series, Secret Worlds offers a chance to get your teeth deep into a wide range of fascinating subjects from nature, history, and science.Every title has: Easy-to-read narrative text written by a specialist who combines expert knowledge with an entertaining and fresh style.Superb color photography that entices the reader into the subject world with close-up views and dramatic shots.Weird World feature boxes that reveal a wealth of wacky facts.Tried-and-tested websites to check out the latest info.A mega reference section with even more facts and figures for the enthusiast.Suitable for children aged ten and up -- as well as every other family member who is curious about the subject. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Important Read
This is a must read for faculty and staff engaged in Naitve Studies, thinkig of creating a Native Studies program or department, and shouldbe required reading for students enrolled in Native Studies (both undergraduate and graduate levels.) ... Read more

Product Description

When Columbus discovered America in 1492, there were over five hundred indigenous groups living in what is now the United States. Despite the breathtaking diversity and inventiveness of these peoples, the culture, customs, and history of Native Americans are relatively unknown to many students and general readers today. In ten narrative chapters, organized by geographical region, Nash and Strobel examine the real history of Native Americans. How did Natives interact with European settlers? Did they really have pow-wows? Where did Indian children go to school? Did chiefs really wear feathered headdresses and smoke peace pipes? Dispelling the myths and stereotypes, the day-to-day lives of these tribes and groups during a time of tremendous change is discussed. Chapters include details of daily life such as: clothing; colonization; education; farming & hunting; households & homes; leadership & political power; spirituality, rituals & customs; trade & alliance; warfare; women's & children's roles. Readers will learn the other history of indigenous people; not what is told in many history books, or seen in Hollywood movies and old westerns.

When Columbus discovered America in 1492, there were over five hundred indigenous groups living in what is now the United States. Despite the breathtaking diversity and inventiveness of these peoples, the culture, customs, and history of Native Americans are relatively unknown to many students and general readers today. In ten narrative chapters, organized by geographical region, Nash and Strobel examine the real history of Native Americans. How did Natives interact with European settlers? Did they really have pow-wows? Where did Indian children go to school? Did chiefs really wear feathered headdresses and smoke peace pipes? Dispelling the myths and stereotypes, the day-to-day lives of these tribes during a time of tremendous change is discussed. Chapters include details of daily life such as: clothing; colonization; education; farming & hunting; households & homes; leadership & political power; spirituality, rituals & customs; trade & alliance; warfare; women's & children's roles.Readers will learn the other history of indigenous people; not what is told in many history books, or seen in Hollywood movies and old westerns.

Greenwood's Daily Life through History series looks at the everyday lives of common people. This book will illuminate the lives of this indigenous group and provide a basis for further research. Black and white photographs, maps and charts are interspersed throughout the text to assist readers. Reference features include a timeline of historic events, sources for further reading, glossary of terms, bibliography and index.

Product Description
Native American Painting of the twentieth century has its origins in the decoration of prehistoric pottery, clothing, wood, and hide objects, and in pictographs and petroglyphs painted or inscribed on rocky hillsides. After Native contact with European Americans, Indian art absorbed influences from white culture, and the materials used for painting began to include papers, inks, pencils, and commercial pigments. The 484 paintings shown in this book, all from the collection of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reflect many major influences on Indian art. From a ledger-style painting of the Battle of Little Bighorn (c. 1892) to a canvas that expresses a Native view of the Vietnam War (c. 1971), the range of imagery is amazingly broad. The text of the catalogue section of the book comes primarily from the actual words of artists represented in the collection, and those of their friends and families, gathered through interviews. Together, these narratives and the beautifully reproduced body of paintings tell the fascinating story of Native American painting in modern America. ... Read more

Product Description
Crafts and Skills of Native Americans is a fascinating, practical guide to the skills that have made Native American famous worldwide as artisans and craftsmen. Readers can replicate traditional Native American living by trying a hand at brain tanning, identifying animal tracks, or constructing a horse saddle. Readers can even make distinctive Native American beaded jewelry, a variety of moccasins, headdresses, and gourd rattles. Native American style is unique and popular, especially among young people, historians, and those with a special interest in the American West.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Learning and Eating Well at the Same Time.
Here is a book that gives us insight into the agriculture heritage of the original Maricopa and Pima people of the Arizona desert, the original American Slow Food movement if you will. These early people ate amazingly well with what they cultivated from the land, the sky, and the river. In this beautiful book Kai's talented chefs have honored this heritage with dishes like the three sisters composition of sweet corn panna cotta with pickled local squash and venison carpaccio as well as the grilled elk chop with truffle and Gila River eggplant caviar. This is a terrific book for the bookshelf of foodies, lovers of the desert, and historians as well.

Perfect for Holiday gifting!
A beautifully composed, historically compelling, artfully presented study of not only Native American cuisine, but for most, the forgotten Native American cultures that brought it all about.

Included is a "Glossary of Native American and Desert Foods" and a "Shopping Guide" for the ingredients needed to prepare the tempting dishes. "Shopping Guide" web sites are listed and one of the shops:Heritage Foods, USA is located near Detroit in Ann Arbor, Michigan. All go together to make the recipes doable for what will serve to be a one-of-a-kind feast.A sure hit for the holidays.

My fellow Michigan historians are as taken with this book as I am. It is a must-have.



Dr. Catherine L. G-MD

Great Story and Recipes
Obviously the previous reviewer did not READ the book.
Five Star recipes reference the recipes from Kai Restaurant.The only Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Restaurant in the state of Arizona.
Kai restaurant is on the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix.
As far as Native American cuisine, it is the highest rated restaurant in the World.
The book is more than recipes; I chronicles the history of the Pima and Maricopa people.It's culture, traditions and food.

Nouveaux Riche Indian cuisine
5 Stars is the Red Flag, Native Cuisine is not rated or given stars. If your a jet setting tycoon that has been to any of the resorts listed, you may care for these faux cuisine offerings. But should you care for the real flavor of the region not to mention the culture, keep your money, look elsewhere for native cuisine.

Spirit of the Harvest is by far, a superior book to what this culinary attempt fails to achieve. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is designed to help the beginning or novice beadworker explore the art of traditional Native American beadwork and guide them through their initial projects. While many beadwork craft books stress more contemporary beading applications, this volume emphasizes the techniques and materials necessary to emulate the traditional art of native artisans. The basic techniques of sewn beadwork are described in detail and are accompanied by clear illustrations. The author also explores the use of color and design elements in traditional beadwork and outlines the historical significance of beads and beaded articles in Native American culture. This guidebook is an excellent first resource for scouts, youth groups, and young adults interested in Native American art and culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

disappointed
I thought I would learn some beading techniques, but it is about the history, not the actual designs that I expected it to be. Would have returned but it would have cost as much as I paid for it. Would not recommend

A great simply written guidebook!
I found this book very delightful. It is written with a sufficient amount of information to get you started enjoying the craft quickly without being 'wordy' and drawn out to the point of annoyance while trying to get the 'meat' of the book. The sentences are spaced nicely apart to make reading easy on the eyes and makes it possible to write notes between the lines. I especially was glad to find a small bead graph paper page that I can copy to use to draw designs which I have had difficulty finding in that size. This book is simple enough for anyone with no experience including children interested in the craft.

Beadwork for beginners
I found this book to be very informative.It incorporates a lot of history and information on the Native American culture while instructing the reader on traditional beadwork designs.While the reading is a bit dry at times, I think this will be a fine instructional tool for students of Native American history and anyone wanting to create authentic beadwork designs.I especially enjoyed all the photographs of completed beadwork items, but I wish they had been in color.The hand-drawn illustrations were clear and easy to follow. ... Read more

Product Description
Flags of the Native peoples of the United States proudly display symbols of tribal traditions, art and culture. In Native American Flags, Donald T. Healy and Peter J. Orenski present an encyclopedic look at the flags and histories of 183 Native American tribes throughout the United States.Listing Indian nations alphabetically, this fully indexed reference includes both federally recognized tribes and other groups, and offers an image of each tribe's flag and a map of their location within the United States.Each entry includes a brief summary of the tribe's history, presents information on contemporary Indian peoples, and describes and illustrates in detail the symbolism and imagery of each Native American flag.A gallery of color plates includes full-color representations of 192 historic and contemporary Native flags.

The authors visited over two-dozen reservations and surveyed more than 250 tribal governments, working closely with them to produce this authoritative volume.A portion of their original research on Native American flags was published in Raven, the journal of the North American Vexillological Association, an organization devoted to the scientific study of flags.This thoroughly revised and updated edition includes more than fifty new flags and accompanying tribal listings and full-color representations of each flag. Carl Waldman's foreword places the flags within the context of Indian history, mythology, and art, and shows how Native American flags have become powerful symbols of Native unity and tribal sovereignty.Native American Flags is ideally suited for libraries, American studies and civics programs, flag enthusiasts, and the globe-spanning audience of people interested in enjoying and preserving the American Native heritage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Nation upon one Nation
Accurate reference book on America Indian Nation Flags. With concise information on each nation.

Respectfully yours,
Elder Shaman George Son of Sea Shell Ramos
The Jatibonicú Taino Tribal Nation of Boriken
Tekesta Tribe of Bimini (Florida)

Discover the Native Americans through their flags !
This fascinating book lists almost 200 U.S. Indian tribal flags arranged in alphabetical order. Every flag design, before being described and analyzed in detail, is introduced by a map locating the Tribe within the U.S. The text, rich in detail and well-documented from Native sources, is further illustrated by a set of 192 color plates, allowing full appreciation of these flags. You are invited to plunge into Indian lives and beliefs: the harmony between man and nature, wisdom, religious feelings, attachment to earth ... Through flags, the book allows you to discover a fascinating and ancient people, whose spiritual richness is only equaled by their diversity. It pays homage to Indian traditions, art and culture. Don't hesitate to buy this book, it will be an exciting adventure! ... Read more

Product Description
This new guide is the first to explore all facets of Native American jewelry--its history, variety, and quality--in one convenient resource. With coverage beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, this resource includes artists, techniques, materials, motifs, and more. The encyclopedia opens with a helpful introductory essay to acquaint the reader with the subject. More than 350 entries and over 80 photos make this new encyclopedia an exceptional value. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Please don't waste your time.
As a student of Native American Astrology as taught to me by my Medicine Elders for the last decade or more I was quite excited to see this book offered and so I bought it as a research project. I wish I had not wasted my money, and if I could have given it '0 stars' I would have done so.

There is no credibility offered by the author or the publisher as to where the information is acquired. Nor is there anything offered as to which of the many Native American Nations this method of astrology is ascribed. This book simply blankets every nation with the same 'Eagle means this, Otter means that'. Much of it is straight out of Sun Bear's _Medicine Wheel_. More of it disagrees with everything I have been taught or found in my research. I am open to the possibility that some Nation somewhere might use what is in this book as a basis for their astrological system, I rather doubt it.

If I needed any more confirmation that this book was a 'get rich quick' publication, I believe the statements in the cover notes '...translated from the German... for entertainment purposes only...' say it all.

Please, save your time and your money. There are much better books out there. ... Read more