For anyone interested in the background, impact, and future of the Pick-Sloan Plan, you need look no further than Lawson's aptly titled "Dammed Indians". The tribes from Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, SD to Ft. Peck Dam in Montana have all been adversely affected with the damming of the Missouri River, a truth which Lawson documents with precision and skill. Originally a Ph.D. dissertation written in the history department at the University of New Mexico, Lawson is a fine example of some of the many outstanding American West historians who have come out of that institution.

This is a well written and engaging look into the importance of the Mandan and Hidatsa Indian villages as a pivotal point in trade systems during the late 1700's through early 1800's. Being located along the Missouri River in present day North Dakota, the Mandan/Hidatsa Indians traded horses, robes and furs to Canadian Fur Companies in return for guns and ammunition. They would then trade these goods for other commodities from various Northern Plains Indian Tribes, who previously may have traded with other tribes or the Spaniards further south. In part one, the authors give a lengthy but excellent and relevant chronological introduction as to the fur trade history of this geographical area. Part two includes five journals (or excerpts) of some of these Northwest Fur Company traders' first hand accounts depicting life as it was: John Macdonell's descriptions of the Indians, geography and trade in the 1790's; David Thompson's narrative describing his harrowing 1797 journey from Fort Assiniboine to the Mandan villages in the dead of winter; Larocque's two narratives, the "Missouri (1804)" and "Yellowstone (1805)" Journals, the latter of which, in the company with Crow Indians, he may possibly have been the first white man to descend the Yellowstone River, pre-dating William Clark by more than a year. The final narrative is of Charles McKenzie's four journeys to the Mandan villages (1804-1806), the first two in company with Larocque's expeditions. This is a fascinating read for fur trade enthusiasts and/or those whose interests are in early western exploration.

This book is interesting less for its literary quality than for the Indian captivity tale it tells and the example it provides of a little-known woman heroine of the American frontier era, based on a true story. Since you have to dig hard these days to find the unvarnished, less savory accounts of Indian and white settler behavior in early American history and since tales of only a few women heroines of the era are recycled over and over again, this book both reminds us of historical truth and adds a woman heroine to the standard lexicon. Suitable for upper- grade school (with parental approval) through adult readers.

This book inables the reader to creates, in their mind, an interesting and different look at the world around them. I would encourage younger people to reader this book, espialally none Native Americans. I believe it is a very important piece of Native American culture.

"Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon" is told and illustrated by Gerald McDermott. It opens with the title character playing his flute. Jabuti wants to play his instrument at a festival for the King of Heaven, but another creature's jealousy leads to conflict.

The fun story is brought to life by McDermott's superb artwork. His brightly colored illustrations have a highly stylized, almost surreal quality that I found very engaging. I loved the pictures of Jabuti, as well as those of the birds, trees, flowers, jaguar, and tapir. Dominated by bright pink and shades of green, the pictures really excite the eye. A charming book.

== For those interested in the early explorations of what is now the Midwest, this is an outstanding and interesting read.
From its initial publication in London in the late 1760's Carver's travels thrilled readers both in the colonies and in Europe.
== It is not exactly an action-adventure book, but for those who enjoy accounts of Louis and Clark this would be an excellent addition to a library.

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kaya'aton'my', a nine-year-old Native-American girl growing up among the Nez Perce people in 1764. In this book, when Kaya losses a footrace against a girl from another tribe, she becomes jealous; but things go from bad to worse when it turns out that this same girl has become friends with Kaya's sister, Speaking Rain. Eventually, though, Kaya realizes that her jealousy has gone too far, and when a crisis hits, Kaya learns that there is much to be gained by working together.

This is another excellent American Girl story. My twelve-year-old daughter is a great fan of Kaya, and I must admit that I like the stories as well. I like the lesson that Kaya learns in this story, plus I like the story and illustrations for themselves. This is a very good book, one that my daughter and I both highly recommend.

It's been over thity years since I've read this. As a child it was spell binding. Full of suspense and intrigue, I could'nt put the book down until it was finished! As it was, it required a written letter and several phone calls from our hometown librarian to demand the return of this publication back to the library!
As it turned out,a Lady in the vicinity,(who happened to be a direct descendant of Lewis Wetzel) refused to hand over the book.There was only one copy of this publiction
in our library. So I to wait like, almost an eternity to read this book!

THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD PORTRAYAL OF THE GERMAN FAMILY.THE FOUR GERMAN SISTER WERE CAPTIVE OF GRAY BEARD THEIR NAME WERE CATHERINE 17 YEARS OLD AND 12 YEARS OLD SOPHI,ADDIE AND JULIE THE YOUNG ONE'S . CAREFULLY RESERCHED. WHERE WAS CATHERINE IN 1880.

Looking for a fair representation of how the North American Indian tribes were affected by the intrusion of Europeans? My husband and I were, following an exchange with our 8-year-old after watching "Peter Pan", where she voiced hatred for Indians, but had no reasoning behind it. This book is unique in a variety of ways; it is a true story, from a woman's perspective, of how her life was changed after being captured by the Seneca tribe. It deals in an honest, forthright manner, reflecting Jemison's original fear and ultimate embracing of her inclusion into tribal life, and the many adavantages she found therein. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an discussion of the reality of Indians in North America, and the influence of European culture on it with their young child. Well written, nice illustrations, and at 32 pages, concise.