Product Description
This book deals with the perennial tensions between ethnic groups and the modern nation-state and does so from the perspective of a leading Mexican anthropologist with deep and long experience in these matters. As such, it is both a superb introduction to the basic issues and a presentation of the author's own original contributions. The appearance of this book in English gives North American readers access to these important and political currents in Latin American anthropology and political economy. It is required reading for anyone wishing to understand the current recrudescence of indigenous peoples at this moment in history-when conventional wisdom had predicted its demise. ... Read more

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This introduction to the art of tribal peoples of North America, Africa, and the South Pacific does not briefly cover the hundreds of artistic traditions in these three vast areas but rather studies in depth thirty-six art styles within all three areas using the methods of art history, including stylistic analysis and iconographic interpretation. Emphasis is on the art in cultural context and as a system of visual communication within each tribal area. Where appropriate for a more complete understanding of the art, data from archaeology, ethnology, linguistics, religion, and other humanistic disciplines are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Googling for Corbin
I am at a total loss whenever I attend a social function and the host introduces four or five people whom I've never met before.I struggle to remember their names and try to discreetly interrogate them regarding their interrelationships, but I am able only to create a vague picture. Why did the host invite these particular people and why did he believe I would be interested in meeting them?This is analogous to the introduction Corbin offers in his book.The author simply declares that the book was "written from the point of view of an art historian" and contains selected art styles (1).For me, it is a good thing that he decided to select a limited number of traditions instead of trying to cover everything, but he never explains why these particular groups were chosen, or the criteria he used to make his choice. He states that the text will analyze the "formal qualities of the art" within the cultural context, but there is no discussion of methodology or mention of cross-cultural aspects.Instead, he begins with an overview of "three broad categories of traditional art" (2); the first two categories being body decoration and masking and the third, I construed, being architecture/handicrafts.All of the information contained in these categories resulted in hours of Googling.The upside was I finally used most of my reference books on Native Americans that have been lying dormant since I purchased them.The downside was, by page seven, I was exhausted and frustrated.

The introductory section on Native American body decoration includes illustrations of a Mandan (Google) chief and a tattooed Haidan (Google) couple.Corbin discusses the symbolism of Mandan chief's decorations, but forgoes analysis of Haidan tattoos.For that, I had to check the footnote and download the Swan Report (Google:see Swan, J.G. Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology Google Books. Retrieved on January 25, 2010) referenced in his footnote. He then jumps to body decoration in Cameroon that includes a photo of a decorated Northern Cameroon woman that, as if I couldn't see the photo, he describes in detail.He offers no explanation regarding the symbolism of the decorations, stating: "[V]ery little is known about the symbolism of this Cameroon woman's scarification patterns" (7).A little more data is presented for the Fang man, but I wish he would have explained why he chose this example and included an analysis.I own a couple references on body adornment (See Camphausen, Rufus. Return of the Tribal: A Celebration of Body Adornment. Diane Publishing Co., 1997; Gay, Kathlyn and Christine Whittington. Body Marks: Tattooing, Piercing, and Scarification. Twenty-First Century Books, 2002)that explain both the processes and significance of this art,so I find it puzzling that Corbin does not elaborate or at least reference some descriptions. The rest of the introduction follows the same pattern, so I continued to Google until the end of the chapter.

The footnotes offer a few other sources for reference, but his extensive bibliography is divided into categories instead of by chapter which made it hard to cross-reference the footnotes. If Corbin is attempting to spur the reader to research these topics further, he has succeeded.The text will probably work as a minimal introduction to the subject, and it does have an abundance of photographs (the hardcover version photos are much better), but if this was an invitation to a party, I would send my regrets. ... Read more

Product Description
Indigenous people constitute a large portion of Latin America's population and suffer from severe and widespread poverty. They are more likely than any other groups of a country's population to be poor. This study documents their socioeconomic situation and shows how it can be improved through changes in policy-influenced variables such as education. The authors review the literature of indigenous people around the world and provide a statistical overview of those in Latin America. Case studies profile the indigenous populations in Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru, examining their distribution, education, income, labour force participation and differences in gender roles. A final chapter presents recommendations for conducting future research. ... Read more

Product Description
The Native American tribes of the southeastern region of the United States had highly developed systems of government, agriculture, and social culture at the time the first Europeans encountered them. Native Americans of the Southeast explores the lifestyles of these tribes and their struggle to survive and regain their heritage during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. (20020801) ... Read more

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More than any other continent, South America "has preserved the conditions that allow mythology to be freely produced." Dividing the continent into seven carefully mapped regions, John Bierhorst shows how South America's principal myths can be traced from tribe to tribe and how each region has developed its own unique oral tradition. Generous samples from the stories themselves introduce the female creators of the northern Andes, the male gods of the ancient Incas, and the Brazilian tricksters Sun and Moon. Originally published in 1988, Bierhorst has updated the text to reflect the abundance of new information that has become available since the mid 80s and written a new Afterward in which he emphasizes the durability of Indian mythology. Illustrations of native artwork and chapters devoted to special topics--including the connections between myths and politics--help to provide a well-rounded overview of this fascinating and little-known lore. Detailed maps show tribal locations and the distribution of key stories and samples of differing narrative styles add enrichment, as some of the world's purest and most powerful myths are made more accessible--and more meaningful--than ever before. ... Read more

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Discover all about the everyday lives of early American peoples by investigating in turn the lost civilizations of the Aztec, Maya, and Inca peoples and the enduring Arctic and Native American Indian cultures of the North. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very good pictures and fun craft ideas
I was a little hesitant to buy this book, since no one had reviewed it and there were no sample pages available, but I'm glad I got it.

There are 4 large sections: Aztec & Maya, Incas, North American Indians, and Arctic Peoples.Each section is set up rather like a DK book, with several color photos (and a few drawings) and text around them.There is lots of information about how each group of people lived, what they believed, some of their history, etc.There are several craft activities for each section, as well.

The weakest section is the North American section, since the information for all groups is together.While readers are informed of the different types of homes, clothing, and general lifestyle between the various cultures, there is little information on any specific culture.Readers wanting information on a particular group (Cherokee, Navajo, etc.) will need an additional source.

Overall, this is a very good beginning place for learning about ancient American cultures & peoples, especially for children from 5-12 years old (With 5 year olds looking at the pictures and being told a little, and perhaps doing a few crafts with help, and older children reading the text for themselves and doing the crafts alone).After reading the appropriate section of this book, readers will be ready to learn more about whatever specific group they are interested in. ... Read more

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The indigenous people of the hemisphere have resisted a five-hundred-year assault, fighting to maintain their cultural identities. During this time, authorities in the Americas have insisted that the toleration of indigenous societies and cultures would undermine their respective states. In recent years, however, the nations of the Americas have started to reverse themselves. They are altering their constitutions and proclaiming themselves multiethnic. Why is this happening now? The Politics of Ethnicity: Indigenous Peoples in Latin American States, edited by David Maybury-Lewis, helps us understand the reasons and history behind these times of transition.

The book provides a valuable overview of current problems facing indigenous peoples in their relation with national states in Latin America, from the highlands of Mexico to the jungles of Brazil. The traditional, sometimes centuries old, relations between states and indigenous peoples are now changing and being rediscussed. The collection, authored by U.S. and Latin American anthropologists using interdisciplinary approaches, enables the reader to understand these recent developments in a comparative framework. An ambitious and quite thorough collection, it is brought together skillfully by one of the discipline's maître penseurs. ... Read more

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Deborah Yashar analyzes the contemporary and uneven emergence of Latin American indigenous movements--addressing both why indigenous identities have become politically salient in the contemporary period and why they have translated into significant political organizations in some places and not others. She argues that ethnic politics can best be explained through a comparative historical approach that analyzes three factors: changing citizenship regimes, social networks, and political associational space--providing insight into the fragility and unevenness of Latin America's third wave democracies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fast shipping!
I got the book sooner than the given time frame! Condition as described. Would use seller again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

well worthy of your shelf space
this book is one of the FEW books i looked forward to reading, and was able to finish AND understand in its entirety while studying as an anthropology undergrad.it was very informative, and lacked the annoying jargon too-commonly used by overeducated researchers trying to entertain their colleagues.had i read this earlier in my degree program, i might have chosen to pursue this field more closely.thanks for the inspiration, leslie.

Four reviews by professionals
Here are short excerpts of what some professional anthropologists have written in reviews of this book in major journals:

John Bodley - "Very timely collection...examines key issues...a self-conscious andvery successful attempt to combine basic and applied perspectives...."(American Anthropologist June 1996).

Jerome Levi - "For those whothought that as our discipline approaches the third millennium ecologicalanthropology had subsided beneath thewaves of postmodernism, this bookwill come as a virtual tsunami." (American Ethnologist November1995).

Bartholomew Dean - "This volume is a most welcome addition toour emergent understanding of the political ecology of lowland SouthAmerica... For those complacent about the future of Amazonia and theregion's inhabitants, this book provides a clarion call to action."(Cultural Survival Quarterly Fall 1995).

Richard Reed - "The volumeprovides strategic lessons.... the authors survey Amazonian realitiesignored by recent developers.... the volume raises critical issues involvedin protecting forests and peoples from the ravages of development."(Journal of Anthropological Research Spring 1997).

Read the full reviewsand/or the book and judge for yourself!

Four reviews by professionals
Here are short excerpts of what some professional anthropologists have written in reviews of this book in major journals:

John Bodley - "Very timely collection...examines key issues...a self-conscious andvery successful attempt to combine basic and applied perspectives...."(American Anthropologist June 1996).

Jerome Levi - "For those whothought that as our discipline approaches the third millennium ecologicalanthropology had subsided beneath the waves of postmodernism, this bookwill come as a virtual tsunami." (American Ethnologist November1995).

Bartholomew Dean - "This volume is a most welcome addition toour emergent understanding of the political ecology of lowland SouthAmerica... For those complacent about the future of Amazonia and theregion's inhabitants, this book provides a clarion call to action."(Cultural Survival Quarterly Fall 1995).

Richard Reed - "The volumeprovides strategic lessons.... the authors survey Amazonian realitiesignored by recent developers.... the volume raises critical issues involvedin protecting forests and peoples from the ravages of development."(Journal of Anthropological Research Spring 1997).

Read the full reviewsand/or the book and judge for yourself!

Could be much better...
Indigenous Peoples and the Future of Amazonia is an anthology which boasts contributions from archaeologists, anthropologists, cultural ecologists and nutritionists, its input from the indigenous population is limited to atwo-page forward by Simeon Jimenez and Nelly Arvelo-Jimenez.

Sponselmentions that an earnest attempt was made to include authors from the nineAmazonian countries. However, in the end, only three of the authors arefrom South America.

Perhaps I'd hoped for a more activist approach, or atleast, a ground-based examination of current environmental practices andpotential strategies. Instead, this is a scholarly book which sticks itsnose in the pages of future academic research and does not appear to belooking up. The book provides no action plan and few resources or contactsfor interested readers.

Still, in its own way, this is an interestingvolume and offers more than a handful of insightful gems. ... Read more

Product Description
What is a babiche? A cradleboard? Who are the Athapascans and the Black Indians? What was the Battle of Little Big Horn? This compendium of vocabulary, people, places, and events is designed to assist the reader in understanding a variety of terms and important events from Native American history that are included in works of classic literature and nonfiction sources. Offering a balanced approach to multicultural study, the text strives to convey a sense of the normal rhythms of Indian life by discussing the daily work and lifestyles of women and children as well as hunters and warriors. It covers North American, Caribbean, and Central and South American Indian groups and Canadian and Alaskan Inuit, including well-known tribes (e.g., Apache, Cherokee, and Sioux) and less familiar ones (e.g., Carrier, Inuit, Pomo, and Kwakiutl). Each entry contains a pronunciation guide, definition, examples, and an illustrative sentence from the literature. Organized alphabetically with frequent cross-references a ... Read more

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This volume provides a multi-sited and multivocalic investigation of the dynamic social, political and economic processes in the creation and implementation of an agricultural development project. The raised field rehabilitation project attempted to introduce a pre-Columbian agricultural method into the contemporary Lake Titicaca Basin. ... Read more

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Even after US-sponsored death squads have done their worst in Guatemala, the Jacalteco people remain. Scattered in the US and Canada they are surviving. This work examines their ability to maintain their identity, culture and society. It also refutes myths about nations natives, particularly "native" Central Americans, or the Maya and portrays them, not as placed, physically stable, and innocent, but as movers - refugees, travellers and innovators. ... Read more

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As indigenous peoples in Latin America have achieved greater prominence and power, international agencies have attempted to incorporate the agendas of indigenous movements into development policymaking and project implementation. Transnational networks and policies centered on ethnically-aware development paradigms have emerged with the goal of supporting indigenous cultures while enabling indigenous peoples to access the ostensible benefits of economic globalization and institutionalized participation. Focused on the Andean countries of Bolivia and Ecuador, Indigenous Development in the Andes is a nuanced examination of the complexities involved in designing and executing "culturally appropriate" development agendas. Robert Andolina, Nina Laurie, and Sarah A. Radcliffe illuminate a web of relations among indigenous villagers, social movement leaders, government officials, NGO workers, and staff of multilateral agencies such as the World Bank.

The authors argue that this reconfiguration of development policy and practice permits Ecuadorian and Bolivian indigenous groups to renegotiate their relationship to development as subjects who contribute and participate. Yet it also recasts indigenous peoples and their cultures as objects of intervention and largely fails to address fundamental concerns of indigenous movements, including racism, national inequalities, and international dependencies. Andean indigenous peoples are less marginalized, but they face ongoing dilemmas of identity and agency as their fields of action cross national boundaries and overlap with powerful institutions. Focusing on the encounters of indigenous peoples with international development as they negotiate issues related to land, water, professionalization, and gender, Indigenous Development in the Andes offers a comprehensive analysis of the diverse consequences of neoliberal development, and it underscores crucial questions about globalization, governance, cultural identities, and social movements. ... Read more