Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask

I am native American , but never grew up on a reservation so I never had to deal with many of the issues my fellow natives have. Besides being very informative, I found it very sad to hear about. I am glad that some small steps have been taken to acknowledge the Indians, but I agree there really needs to be more done . I hope that the U.S. will one day finally apologize for their crimes and we can finally start moving forward.

Well written, easy to follow, hard to out down. Great read for someone just learning about native history and people in America.

Despite the cutesy title, this is a very serious book. It is presented under the aegis of the Minnesota Historical Society. At the outset we see the titles of the major divisions in the text as well as the subdivisions. We discover the real history of North America. Also we learn that Columbus was not the good guy we believe him to be but a nasty, murdering, thug. And, Thanksgiving wasn't quite the way it is said to be. These are but a few of the topics presented here in question and answer format.There are topics that will surprise you, and most will be useful for a middle or high school teachers, as well as for general readers. Having sorted through the paradoxes and incongruities of Indian life, the author poses the following: "Conclusions: Finding Ways to Make a Difference: (sub-title addressed to the reader) "How Can I Help?" I found this most interesting and incredibly heart-breaking. Finally, I guess it is all too easy to condemn others who lived at a different tine and place and committed acts that most of us consider unacceptable. By the same token, it is hypocritical, when some present day Americans have treated their prisoners in less than respectful ways. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about our history and the history of those whom the Canadians refer to as "The First Peoples" and here in America we refer to as "Native Peoples.

Dr. Anton Treuer is Executive Director of the American Indian Resource Center at Bemidji State University. He has a B.A. from Princeton University, M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He is Editor of the Oshkaabewis (pronounced o-shkaah-bay-wis) Native Journal, the only academic journal of the Ojibwe language and author of 9 books. In his essential, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but were Afraid to Ask, Treuer takes readers through 120 questions – modern and historical, simple and complex, silly and serious, to create a greater understanding and knowledge of Native American people and culture.Living on the North Shore of Lake Superior, a mere twenty miles from the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, commonly known as the Grand Portage Anishinaabe, I have a responsibility to learn and understand more about the first people that inhabited this area. They are my friends and neighbors, and I often don’t verbalize the questions I have because I don’t want to say anything offensive or reveal my ignorance. Treuer’s book is a straightforward path through what could be a minefield, one that to be honest, creates anxiety and for me and impairs genuine connection and communication.The book is divided into sections -- Terminology, History, Religion, Culture & Identity, Politics, Education, Social Activism, and Finding Ways to Make a Difference. Treuer lists the questions and answers to common subjects that have been asked throughout his teaching and speaking career. Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But were Afraid to Ask is an essential addition to every reference library.

Treuer has written an easily accessible beginner’s guide for nonnative people to learn about their native neighbors. It a great foundation set in a direct question/answer format that is clearly written and easy to understand. He also provides a list of resources you can utilize to deepen your knowledge and understanding about Indian culture and the tension that started with the first European and Native encounters. It’s so important to shatter the stereotypes white Americans hold about their native citizensAnd understand how it has been centuries of abuse inflicted on native people that has led to the persistent, ongoing suffering that Indians struggle with today. Acknowledging the past and making an effort not just to understand but apologize for the wrongs our white nation committed against Indians in the past, as well as recognizing the assault that continue today is the only way we can bring about reconciliation. We have a lot of work to do.

Ready it in one night - would highly recommend

Most you want to know about the natives. Don't be afraid to ask more questions ;-) I will do that!

"Les Indiens pour les nuls", écrit par un autochtones qui sait de quoi il parle. Je conseille de découvrir aussi les livres de son frère David Treuer

Very interesting read. The author analyzes popular questions that others have about "Indians". He stresses the importance that he is not speaking for all Aboriginal people, so it's important to keep that in mind while reading.This book is a very easy read, with about 160 pages.

Interesting background information that helps to get some insight from an 'Insider'. But there were some things I was shocked that white Americans would really ask (and have the wrong stereotypes in 'the back'). Wouldn't ever have thought of those prejudices. Maybe because I'm European, who has always been interested in Native Americans and always looked for informations 'beyond Karl May' to avoid stereotypes.But it was great information about all those Indian laws and how those people were (and sometimes still are) treated.