"This striking project will be of wide interest to scholars and students concerned with social movements and indigenous rights. The topic is important and timely, and the author is one of the most respected Mayan intellectuals and activists." -- Kay Warren, Director of Politics, Culture, and Identity Program, Watson Institute, and Professor of International Studies and Anthropology, Brown University

When Mayan leaders protested the celebration of the Quincentenary of the "discovery" of America and joined with other indigenous groups in the Americas to proclaim an alternate celebration of 500 years of resistance, they rose to national prominence in Guatemala. This was possible in part because of the cultural, political, economic, and religious revitalization that occurred in Mayan communities in the later half of the twentieth century. Another result of the revitalization was Mayan students' enrollment in graduate programs in order to reclaim the intellectual history of the brilliant Mayan past. Victor Montejo was one of those students.

This is the first book to be published outside of Guatemala where a Mayan writer other than Rigoberta Menchu discusses the history and problems of the country. It collects essays Montejo has written over the past ten years that address three critical issues facing Mayan peoples today: identity, representation, and Mayan leadership. Montejo is deeply invested in furthering the discussion of the effectiveness of Mayan leadership because he believes that self-evaluation is necessary for the movement to advance. He also criticizes the racist treatment that Mayans experience, and advocates for the construction of a more pluralistic Guatemala thatrecognizes cultural diversity and abandons assimilation. This volume maps a new political alternative for the future of the movement that promotes inter-ethnic collaboration alongside a reverence for Mayan culture.

When John Joseph Mathews (1894-1979) began his career as a writer in the 1930s, he was one of only a small number of Native American authors writing for a national audience. Today he is widely recognized as a founder and shaper of twentieth-century Native American literature. Twenty Thousand Mornings is Mathews's intimate chronicle of his formative years. Written in 1965-67 but only recently discovered, this work captures Osage life in pre-statehood Oklahoma and recounts many remarkable events in early-twentieth-century history. Born in Pawhuska, Osage Nation, Mathews was the only surviving son of a mixed-blood Osage father and a French-American mother. Within these pages he lovingly depicts his close relationships with family members and friends. Yet always drawn to solitude and the natural world, he wanders the Osage Hills in search of tranquil swimming holes - and new adventures. Overturning misguided critical attempts to confine Mathews to either Indian or white identity, Twenty Thousand Mornings shows him as a young man of his time. He goes to dances and movies, attends the brand-new University of Oklahoma, and joins the Air Service as a flight instructor during World War I - spawning a lifelong fascination with aviation. His accounts of wartime experiences include unforgettable descriptions of his first solo flight and growing skill in night-flying. Eventually Mathews gives up piloting to become a student again, this time at Oxford University, where he begins to mature as an intellectual. In her insightful introduction and explanatory notes, Susan Kalter places Mathews's work in the context of his life and career as a novelist, historian, naturalist, and scholar. Kalter draws on his unpublished diaries, revealing aspects of his personal life that have previously been misunderstood. In addressing the significance of this posthumous work, she posits that Twenty Thousand Mornings will challenge, defy, and perhaps redefine studies of American Indian autobiography.

Society is continually moving towards global interaction, and nations often contain citizens of numerous cultures and backgrounds. Bi-culturalism incorporates a higher degree of social inclusion in an effort to bring about social justice and change, and it may prove to be an alternative to the existing dogma of mainstream Europe-based hegemonic bodies of knowledge. The Handbook of Research on Indigenous Knowledge and Bi-Culturalism in a Global Context is a collection of innovative studies on the nature of indigenous bodies' knowledge that incorporates the sacred or spiritual influence across various countries following World War II, while exploring the difficulties faced as society immerses itself in bi-culturalism. While highlighting topics including bi-cultural teaching, Africology, and education empowerment, this book is ideally designed for academicians, urban planners, sociologists, anthropologists, researchers, and professionals seeking current research on validating the growth of indigenous thinking and ideas.

Indigenous people around the world are becoming more interested in information technology because they see it as a way to preserve their traditional cultures for future generations as well as a way to provide their communities with economic and social renewal. However, the cost of the new technologies, geographic isolation, and a lack of computer literacy have made it difficult for indigenous people to adopt IT. ""Information Technology and Indigenous People"" provides theoretical and empirical information related to the planning and execution of IT projects aimed at serving indigenous people. It explores many cultural concerns with IT implementation, including language issues and questions of cultural appropriateness, and brings together cutting-edge research from both indigenous and nonindigenous scholars.

It was nearly the turn of the century. Not only was the century changing but the ways of life were changing. Many new inventions were making life easier. Electricity was becoming more and more available. Travel was becoming more comfortable and convenient. The awareness of the plight of the Native American Indians was more widely known. The Wounded Knee Massacre was a recent occurrence. As more and more people were exposed to the manner in which Indians were treated, attitudes changed. The Indian population had declined to its lowest ebb at the turn of the century. The Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha was an opportunity to show off many of the new inventions and to help the rest of the country be aware of the riches West of the Mississippi. One Frank A. Rinehart, the premier photographer in Omaha, was appointed the Official Photographer for the Trans-Mississippi Expo. At the last minute, it was decided to bring about 500 Indians to the Expo to show attendees the human side of this misunderstood people. Rinehart had the unique opportunity to produce photographic portraits of each of the Native Americans in attendance. "The Edge of Extinction" not only highlights some of those portraits of this handsome race, but also gives a view of life in Omaha, the commentary of the national press concerning the Trans-Mississippi, a look at the man who was Rinehart and more so as to help understand this time in the history of the Midwest.

Gilbert L. Wilson, gifted ethnologist and field collector for the American Museum of Natural History, thoroughly enjoyed the study of American Indian life and folklore. In 1902 he moved to Mandan, North Dakota and was excited to find he had Indian neighbors. His life among them inspired him to write books that would accurately portray their culture and traditions. Wilson's charming translations of their oral heritage came to life all the more when coupled with the finely-detailed drawings of his brother, Frederick N. Wilson. "Myths of the Red Children" (1907) and "Indian Hero Tales" (1916) have long been recognized as important contributions to the preservation of American Indian culture and lore. Here, for the first time ever, both books are included in one volume, complete with their supplemental craft sections and ethnological notes. While aimed at young folk, the books also appeal to anyone wishing to learn more about the rich and culturally significant oral traditions of North America's earliest people. Nearly 300 drawings accompany the text, accurately depicting tools, clothing, dwellings, and accoutrements. The drawings for this edition were culled from multiple copies of the original books with the best examples chosen for careful restoration. The larger format allows the reader to fully appreciate every detail of Frederick Wilson's remarkable drawings. This is not a mere scan containing torn or incomplete pages, stains and blemishes. This new Onagocag Publishing hardcover edition is clean, complete and unabridged. In addition, it features an introduction by Wyatt R. Knapp that includes biographical information on the Wilson brothers, as well as interesting details and insights about the text and illustrations. Young and old alike will find these books a thrilling immersion into American Indian culture, craft, and lore. Onagocag Publishing is proud to present this definitive centennial edition.