Book Review: Navajo People

Navajo People: Native American Tribes by Mary Null Boule, Merryant Publishers Inc., 2003.

This is the second of her series I have looked at.  I am disappointed in them both and am not going to look at her books anymore.  Over half the book is taken by a description of Native Americans in general.  She concludes this saying how the Native Americans lived in peace and harmony for thousands of years and then the White man came who rarely even asked permission to take over the land.  I think the author is propagandizing.  These books are not fit for schools.  It appears their production is geared to take advantage of required school reporting on native Americans.  The author’s bias should be left to herself and it was a sad day these books were published.  

I was wondering if I learned anything new.  I liked the description of the hogan and how they are made.  However the author didn't even talk about the matriarchal society nor the clans.

Book Review: Chumash Tribe

Chumash Tribe: California Native American Tribes by Mary Null Boule, Merryant Publishers, Vashon, WA, 1992

 

This book is a bit of a misnomer.  I realized after I had been reading that the first 25 pages were written about all California native American Tribes, and then the last 20 pages were particular to the Chumash.

The Chumash were the native American people that built the most sophisticated boats.  These were boats made out of planks, and were used to navigate the oceans.  With these boats they were able to visit the Channel Islands, and these were off the coast where most of the Chumash lived.  The Chumash would have been considered a wealthy tribe.  They had plentiful food, and also natural resources with which they could make things.  The women were excellent basket weavers.  They made pots out of soap stone which were good for cooking.  The wealthiest were allowed to wear bear skins, and also owned boats. There was a boat makers type of guild.