Native Universe: Voices of Indian America

by Gerald McMaster (Editor), Clifford E. Trafzer (Editor), Brenda J. Child (Contributor)

This colorful coffee table pictorial serves as the grand accompaniment to the opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. In addition to more than 300 color illustrations of artworks, Native Universe contains extensive essays on Native mythology, history, culture, and identity. The book also includes poems by N. Scott Momaday, Louise Erdrich, Linda Hogan, and others.

Genres: Native American, History, Nonfiction, Art, Photography, American History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worth your time as a coffee-table book. Offers a brief outline of art, history, and literary perspectives (less so the latter) on Native peoples and tribes from around the world. Intriguing, but not deep enough from a research standpoint and/or critical lens point of view. The pictures (photos) in the book ARE very beautiful to look at (gaze at) but, IMO, doesn't do justice to what items/artifacts are being shown.

[Letitia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book and rich in material. It's kind of without genre though. Not fully textbook, not really art book or discussion starter...not quite sure what to do with it. The other thing that I wish had been better was cultural distinctions between nations and ethnic groups. I know this was compiled to give a comprehensive look at North and South American Indigenous cultures, (the titular "Universe") but in doing so it obscures distinct peoples. I worry this will further confound a lot of white Americans who think all Indians are basically Plains Indians and forget that each nation has language, culture and identity that is uniquely their own. In attempting to address everything, this book addresses too little of that. Like I said the material is rich and vast, but each section captures snippets from various traditions and in doing so blurs their distinctness.

[Oz Paszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection does a beautiful job of expressing the unique nature of the indigenous tribes and peoples of the Americas. With stunning imagery, honest historical context, and poignant writing, this is an excellent starting point for diving deeper into the history, art, and struggles of displaced Natives.

[Viviana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8 - 5 stars
Not totally finished

[Deb W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book with magical prose.

[Lisa Ulibarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Apache I love seeing things depicting the lifestyle of various nations; what they stand for; their art, philosophies of life... this is part of me also a part I honor well. Seeing this stuff touches my heart and adds to my artistic heart too in very inspired ways!!!

[Mary Keroson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the history and the art.