First Peoples, First Contacts

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From the Big-Game Hunters of 12,000 years ago to the modern Inuits of Alaska, the Native peoples of North America have cultivated a vibrant and diverse culture that has endured significant challenges. This work serves as both a historical account and a celebration of this rich heritage. It is filled with historical testimonies and anecdotes, offering a comprehensive view of Native American life from its earliest records. Expert Jonathan King intertwines narratives of Native histories, tracing the journey of the first inhabitants who arrived via Alaska and their subsequent encounters with Europeans. He explores interactions with fur traders, settlers, and the expanding American government. To enhance this narrative, King utilizes extensive collections from the British Museum, showcasing artwork, clothing, tools, and artifacts that reflect both ancient traditions and the vitality of contemporary Native culture. These illustrations, described in detail, create a visual document of the complex relationships between Europeans and Native American peoples, highlighting the profound differences and deep connections among groups like the Algonquians, Iroquois, Chumash, Inuipat, Cree, and Cherokee from their initial contact to their intricate coexistence today.