Five Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Sioux, Arickaras, Assiniboines, Crees and Crows (Civilization of the American Indian Series, No 59)

Rating:
Summary: Not prejudiced; called it as he saw it. Relevant book.
Review: An outstanding book; I loaned mine to someone, can't remember to whom. Will buy another one. This book, as well as Comanches by TR Fehrenbach, are too similar in their portrayal of the Amerindian to suggest that the authors are prejudiced. I am convinced that Denig called it as he saw it. The writing might seem pompous but that's the way authors wrote in those days. However, the importance of these books (Five Indian Tribes and Comanches) is to help Americans understand what is going on in Iraq today. Talk about relevance. Go back and read the NY Times article about the five Iraqi tribes in the immediate area protecting Saddam before he was captured. It is absolutely uncanny to see the parallels between the Amerindians in the 1800's and the Iraqi tribes today. During the time when I lived in that part of the world (Turkey, Syria, Iraq) my first thought was, my God, these are just like the Indians I grew up with in Williston, North Dakota. Absolutely uncanny. So, I wouldn't waste my time arguing about the picture these authors paint about these people; I would rather use these books to help understand and explain what is going on in Iraq today.

Rating:
Summary: Value for the information, not the prejudice
Review: I entirely agree with the other reviewer that Denig was very prejudiced about Native Americans. For me, the value in the book - and it is great - is to have rare information about these tribes before their near-disappearance. Denig seems to save his harshest criticisms for the tribes that were most independent, and his stories about these groups give us a glimpse into their lives. I would very much recommend this book to people who are interested in the early 19th century world of the Upper Missouri.

Rating:
Summary: informative but prejudiced
Review: i have heard alot about the man and the book from many people. so i decided to buy the book and read it myself. i must say that for a person that lived with the indians for such a long time it seems to me that denig could not overcome his prejudiced ideas of a civilized or "savage" people and although he describes the manners of the indians in much detail he speaks about them with great arrogance, prejudice and contemp much of the time. to call the indians savages, heathens, and some more contemptuous words like these after living with them for years and marrying one of them, does not show much for the man. one should take his information with much prudence and caution.