Questions and Answers

4/6/2021

Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treur

I was not just another Indian. No Indian really is.
Because we are so often imagined and so infrequently well understood.

It begins at the cover with intricate eye-catching beadwork created by Jana Schmieding (Lakota). The floral motifs, a hallmark of Ojibwe decorative arts, reflect the author's heritage. This book promises to be unique.

Treur has adapted his 2012 book of the same title for a younger audience. It follows a question and answer format and is divided into sections covering a variety of topics such as History, Religion, Culture & Identity, Tribal Languages, Economics, Education, and Social Activism.

The volume can be read cover to cover for a broad introduction the subject. Some readers may choose to take a deep dive into a specific topic. Others may opt to peruse the Contents or Index for questions of particular interest. Skimming through the book and pausing to digest fascinating factoids is another approach. It is possible to read the book differently each time you pick it up.

This edition presents bite-sized chunks of information that suit the needs and interests for a wide audience. It also considers contemporary issues such as racism, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and DNA testing.

A conclusion suggests ways for both Natives and non Natives to advance toward better understanding. Back matter contains Notes, Photo Credits, Acknowledgements, Recommended Reading by topic, and an Index.

Everything You Want to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask is universal in its scope and simultaneously deeply personal. Treuer, a professor with advanced academic degrees and the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, brings an educator's perspective to the book. The addition of personal anecdotes, clever asides, and family photos give the work a distinctive quality and "keep it real." An excellent addition to public, school, and classroom libraries.