The Native People of Alaska

by Steve J. Langdon

Book Overview

This comprehensive, easy-to-read, introductory guide to Alaska's first inhabitants focuses on their lifestyles, traditions and culture at the time of first contact with Europeans. Supplemented with 8... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0936425814
• ISBN13: 9780936425818
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Wizard Works
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 14 years and up

Customer Reviews

Very nice overview

I picked this book up at an Alaskan cruise port shop in Icy Straits to learn about the native peoples of the area and was not disappointed. Langdon jam packs this little book with facts and tidbits about each of the various groups, interspersing black and white photos and drawings among archaeological history, geography, all manner of cultural practices and interesting odds and ends, concluding with the effects of contact with Europeans and/or British and American traders. A final chapter on Historic Changes goes into more detail concerning the history of the state of Alaska and changes wrought in native cultures in order for the people to survive in the white man's world. While sad, there is much hope as we see how Alaska Natives continue to teach their children and the world about their rich heritage and culture and have learned to stand together to demand their right to just and equitable treatment. This is a well-organized, enlightening book, although I suggest having a good general map of Alaska on hand to identify the geographical boundaries detailed. An Appendix of museums and cultural centers is a useful addition.

This is my heritage.

Great book, good information, for the time it was published in. The photograph of the woman and child is actually my great-great grandmother Avitniya, and her child is my great-grandmother Hilda. It was amazing to find this picture on a book cover.

A must for any history library.

The Native People of Alaska by Steve J. Langdon is only 128 pages yet has a lot of detail for those of us who wish to get as much knowledge about Native life and history before the Europeans came. The first chapter is an introduction followed by six chapters that each deal with a region of Alaska. These six chapters break down the information of that area into history, population, technologies, diet, beliefs, trade, warfare, ceremonies, first contact with Europeans and how that effected their way of life. The last chapter is an overview of Alaskan history from first contact with the Russians to the first years of the 21st Century. There is also a list of museums and cultural centers in the back of the book that you can visit when in Alaska. I love this book which I got from the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and think anybody who wants to understand or enjoy Alaska must buy it.