Always a People

Ò. . . reveals the enduring traditions of the Woodland Nations, a cohesive but often overlooked Native cultural group.Ó ÑNative PeoplesÒWhat a priceless treasure this book is!Ó ÑAmerican Indian Libraries NewsletterÒThis portrait of endurance contains vital lessons of survival and of the importance of culture, land and language to identity. To tribes such as the Hopi, Navajo and Havasupai, who now face the threat of loss of culture and language, this volume serves not only as a roadmap...
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Ò. . . reveals the enduring traditions of the Woodland Nations, a cohesive but often overlooked Native cultural group.Ó ÑNative PeoplesÒWhat a priceless treasure this book is!Ó ÑAmerican Indian Libraries NewsletterÒThis portrait of endurance contains vital lessons of survival and of the importance of culture, land and language to identity. To tribes such as the Hopi, Navajo and Havasupai, who now face the threat of loss of culture and language, this volume serves not only as a roadmap to survival, but a testimony to the value of those things held sacred by all peopleÑa common identity, a common language, and a cultural continuity.Ó ÑNavajo Hopi ObserverÒThis is a book that belongs on the shelves of every Indiana library as well as in the homes of anyone who is seriously interested in American history.Ó ÑStar Press, Muncie INÒThe makers of this book, the portrait painter and the interviewers, have done something original, beautiful, and useful.Ó ÑJames Alexander Thom, Bloomington Herald-TimesÒYou can paint me under one condition, that you don't paint me as a 1700 or 1800 Indian. You have to paint me as who I am. This is who I am. I am Phil Alexis, a businessman.Ó ÑPhilip B. Alexis, Potawatomi (Pokagan Band), Executive Director, Confederated Historic Tribes, Inc.ÒWe set out on a journey to make a book that would honor twentieth-century Woodland People. It turns out it is they who honor us with their words, their friendship, their example. For this we say ÔMegwitch,' thank you.Ó ÑRita Kohn, W. Lynwood Montell, from the PrefaceThe Woodland Indian tribes, including Miami, Potawatomi, Delaware, Shawnee, Chippewa, and Kickapoo, have clung tenaciously to their sense of community despite 150 years of government policies aimed at destroying their culture. The 41 narrators in this book, while having their own particular histories, share patterns of experience. All of the people interviewed here have a very deep and abiding commitment to their families and speak of great-great grandparents as intimately as they do of their parents. All see themselves as real people who do not fit the stereotypes often associated with Ònative Americans.Ó And all speak of the urgency for making room for multiple voices drawn from many traditions. Beautifully illustrated with 36 full-color portraits of the narrators.