Books in We Were Here First: the Native Americans series

Shawnee traditions connect them to North America's first native people. They have held on to their beliefs and their culture despite nearly impossible odds. Few tribes have lived in as many places as the Shawnee. Before Europeans arrived, the Shawnee spent summers growing food and winters hunting it. They often traveled. After Europeans arrived, the Shawnee were driven from their land. But they fought back. Skilled warriors, they won battles where they were outnumbered. One of their leaders, Tecumseh, nearly succeeded in building a nation of tribes. Today, the Shawnee seek their own homeland within the state of Oklahoma.

Before they were the Iroquois, they were six separate nations involved in bloody battles. The Peacemaker and Hiawatha changed all of that by encouraging the nations to bury their weapons and live peacefully. Under the Peacemakerís guidance, the Iroquois formed one of the most respected, and oldest, governments in the worldóthe Iroquois Confederacy. It was an alliance between the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and later, the Tuscarora. Learn how the Iroquois organized and ran their government, controlled fur trade, fought in a war that put the strength of the Confederacy and its land at risk, and continued to preserve their culture, including religious practices, celebrations, and ceremonies, for over a thousand years.

Imagine a spring filled with making maple syrup and a fall spent stomping grains of rice. Winter brought ice fishing, while summer was spent sharing food and celebrating with family and friends. Welcome to the world of the Chippewa. This Native American tribe lived in several states within what would become the United States and in parts of Canada. Come and meet their priests, who help heal with herbs. Go on a vision quest with young men who are looking for guardian spirits. Keep an eye out for less-than-friendly spirits on the haunted hunting grounds, and be prepared to run if you think you find one! Although their lives have changed over time, the Chippewa, also known as the Ojibwe, still live on their homelands, often on reservations. They honor their past, and keep it alive. Read and find out how.

The Blackfeet were one of the most powerful tribes of the North American Plains. Their early society depended almost entirely on the buffalo for food, clothing, shelter, and tools. When the U.S. government worked to wipe out the buffalo, the Blackfeet had to find new ways to survive. In the modern era, Blackfeet are found in all walks of life. They have fought hard to preserve their culture, opening a school that teaches in only their native language, and holding annual cultural celebrations for the public. Come explore the rich history of the Blackfeet, one of the few Native American groups that continue to live on their ancestral grounds.

The Hopi have lived in one place longer than any other Native American tribe. Thousands of years ago, their ancestors settled where Arizona is today, raising crops and families. Hopi means peace. Instead of fighting, they traded food and blankets with other tribes. They welcomed visitors. And they developed a culture of underground religious ceremonies. When Europeans arrived, some of the newcomers tried to change the Hopi way of life. They built churches on top of sacred buildings. They outlawed Hopi practices. They destroyed villages. The peaceful Hopi fought back. Today, many live as their ancestors did. Their story is a story of survival. It is the story of a people who were here first.

Imagine you are a member of the Zuni tribe from decades ago. You honor the Sun Father every morning, and watch your elders drop into an underground room for secret ceremonies. You climb up and down ladders to visit neighbors, and spend hours making a blowgun to take on the next hunt. You live in some of the hottest areas in the country, so you have to carry water to keep gardens and crops alive. Open this book and find out more about how the Zuni lived long ago--and how they live today.

The Navajo people, who call themselves the Dinae, are the largest tribe of Native Americans in the United States. When they arrived from Canada, they settled in Colorado. In 1863, they were forced to march on the Long Walk to the Four Corners: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Since then, their lives have changed ddramatically. The Long Walk was a terrible chapter, but their history is one of strength and survival. -- Publisher's description.