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INSIGHT GUIDE: NATIVE AMERICA, edited by John Gattuso. Prentice
Hall Travel Series, 15 Columbus Circle, N.Y., NY 10023. Illus-
trated, index, maps, bibliography. 389 pp., $19.95.
0-13-467119-8
REVIEW
This lavish guide is essential for anyone wanting to tour
Indian reservations of the United States, or to become informed on
what is special about each tribe. Over 200 tribes are mentioned.
Richly illustrated with full page color photographs, the guide
begins with an answer to the question: "Where is Native America?"
The answer is: "Everywhere, but now there are cultural bastions
that are remnants of what once was." The book proceeds to detail
the history of the tribes before the coming of the Europeans, the
settlement of the West, and Indian culture today. Chapters discuss
how Natives cope with living in two worlds, the development of
their art, and the powwow circuit.
The book then turns to a description of tribes, grouped
geographically: the Sioux (they are actually called Lakota, Sioux
means "enemy"), Wind River, Crow, Cheyenne, and Blackfeet of the
Great Plains; the Navajo, Hopi, Pueblo, and Apache of the South-
west; and other regions are described in detail. The article on
the Hopi by Abbot Sekaquaptewa is a fitting memorial; he passed
away last month. Next comes a section of maps, showing the
location of tribal reservations and pueblos.
The last section of the book gives information on traveling to
the reservations: how to get there, how to behave, what to do in
an emergency, where to stay, things to do, and useful addresses for
further information.
This guide is a wealth of knowledge on Native American culture
and life, as well as a manual for the traveler. Most of the
articles are written by tribal members.
Please do not treat lightly the section on how to behave when
visiting a reservation. Even though the tribes are federally
administered under the Department of the Interior, the reservations
are private communities - not national parks. Several tribes are
deliberating on closing the reservations and ceremonies to
outsiders due to past misconduct. Imagine a tour bus arriving at
your church service, with people spilling out taking pictures.
Please use the utmost respect when visiting the tribes!