An introduction to the history, culture, and people of the many Indian tribes that inhabited the region of the present states of Utah and Nevada and the mountainous area of the northwest United States and southern British Columbia in Canada.

Long before Europeans came to the harsh landscape of the Great Basin, many nations of American Indians lived in the region. They had their own languages and cultures, and they knew how to survive in an area with extreme weather and little food. • The Shoshone made powerful bows that could shoot an arrow through a bison. • The Paiute created duck decoys from reeds to help them hunt birds. • The Washoe weaved baskets from reeds and willow. The Great Basin is still home to many twenty-first century American Indians. They continue to weave baskets, hold traditional celebrations, and speak their native languages. Learn more about the past and present of the native peoples of the Great Basin.

Introduces the various Native American tribes of the Great Basin region, discussing their history, dwellings, artwork, religious beliefs, clothing, food, and other aspects of their way of life.

Provides an introduction to Native American tribes of the Great Basin, including their social structure, homes, food, clothing, and traditions.

Written to appeal to professional archaeologists, students, and the interested public alike, this book is a long overdue introduction to the ancient peoples of the Great Basin and northern Colorado Plateau. Through detailed syntheses, the reader is drawn into the story of the habitation of the Great Basin from the entry of the first Native Americans through the arrival of Europeans. Ancient Peoples is a major contribution to Great Basin archaeology and anthropology, as well as the general study of foraging societies.

"Complete with compelling stories told by tribal members and customs passed down through the ages, historical milestones, and profiles of prominent, modern-day leaders, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE is a richly illustrated and authoritative family reference." -- page 4 of cover.

In this ambitious book that ranges across the Great Basin, Blackhawk places Native peoples at the center of a dynamic story as he chronicles two centuries of Indian and imperial history that shaped the American West. This book is a passionate reminder of the high costs that the making of American history occasioned for many indigenous peoples.