This unprecedented published history of Wisconsin’s Indian nations for the general public is a wonderful resource for older teens and for teachers of any grade. Patty Loew, an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, writes in her introduction, “This is by no means an exhaustive study of the tribes in the state. It is my earnest attempt, however, to explore Wisconsin’s rich native heritage in a collection of compact tribal histories. . . . I confined my discussion to the twelve Indian nations . . . whose presence predated Wisconsin statehood and who have maintained a continuous residence here.” Those nations are the Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, the Potawatomi, the Oneida, the Mohican, the Brothertown, and the six bands of Ojibwe. An opening chapter examines the early history of native peoples in the state, including the Effigy Mound Builders and the Mississippians, noting the connections of these cultures to contemporary Wisconsin native peoples. The book documents the impact of European arrival in a general way in the second chapter. Subsequent chapters discuss individual tribes and their histories, including the too-often-tragic impact of white settlement, but also the richness of tribal cultures and traditions. Loew emphasizes the uniqueness of each nation. She also addresses the challenge of documenting a chronological “history” of peoples who organize their pasts thematically and for whom “stories unfold in a circular fashion.” This important work fills a void in the histories of many of Wisconsin’s native peoples. (Age 14–adult)

From origin stories to contemporary struggles over treaty rights and sovereignty issues, Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal explores Wisconsin's rich Native tradition. Each chapter is a compact tribal history of one of the state's Indian nations--Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Oneida, Menominee, Mohican and Brothertown, and Ho-Chunk--and the book relies on the historical perspectives of Native people. Author Patty Loew focuses on oral tradition--stories, songs, the recorded words of Indian treaty negotiators, and interviews--as well as other untapped Native sources, such as tribal newspapers, to present a distinctly different view of history.

Elders and tribal historians from each of the twelve Native communities represented in the book participated in the book's development--making suggestions, recommending sources, and offering criticism. Indian Nations of Wisconsin is illustrated with more than seventy photographs.