The middle-grade volume Native Americans in History by Jimmy Beason (Rockridge Press, 2021) shares the powerful stories of Native American leaders, artists, activists and athletes from history and today. The ninety-page volume is easily readable and nicely formatted for either reference or a straight readthrough. The fifteen people discussed receive about 5 pages of text each, with a beginning illustration and a question to ponder and a way to “find out more” at the end of each chapter. The end matter provides a thorough glossary and additional resources section.
I loved how this volume provides such a variety of Native Americans throughout history to inspire and instruct. So much of the time in our homeschool lessons, Native Americans are regulated to the “Thanksgiving” lessons. This volume shows the influence, resistance, and determination of the brave indigenous individuals who stood up to violence or discrimination in order to accomplish great things.
Many of those featured in this volume were not very familiar to me, and for those that were, I learned a lot. They include the following:
- Sequoyah
- Tecumseh
- Sitting Bull
- Geronimo
- Zitkala-Sa
- Jim Thorpe
- Maria Tallchief
- Susan LaFlesche
- Bertha Parker Cody
- Vine Deloria Jr.
- Russell Charles Means
- Wilma Pearl Mankiller
- Suzan Shown Harjo
- John Bennett Herrington
- Debra Anne Haaland
Learning about the atrocities and discrimination of the past against any group of people is never comfortable, but it should be essential. I’m grateful for the increasing awareness of people from marginalized groups, and Native Americans in History is an important book for showing an indigenous perspective on the past and present.
