What's on this guide
The focus of this interdisciplinary guide is resources directly related to the indigenous peoples of North America. A number of disciplinary perspective are represented here, including History, Anthropology, and Sociology.
At times, you may want to consult a more discipline specific research tool, depending on your topic. Please consult our list of other resources by subject, including: Anthropology, Education, Environment and Ecology, History, Folklore, Music, Political Science and Law, Sociology, and Visual Arts.
Quick resources for Native American Studies research
- Sociological Abstracts
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Abstracts and citations to articles in journals in sociology, family studies, women's studies, and related social sciences, as well as abstracts to dissertations, conference proceedings, and books, covering 1952-present. - Ethnic NewsWatch
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Ethnic, minority, and native presses featuring a rich collection of articles, editorials, columns, and reviews to provide a broad diversity of perspectives and viewpoints. - America: History and Life
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Citations to the literature covering the history and culture of the United States and Canada, from prehistory to the early 20th century. - AnthrosourceDeveloped by the American Anthropological Association (AAA), AnthroSource provides over a century publications online.
- Native-Land.ca"This map does not represent or intend to represent official or legal boundaries of any Indigenous nations. To learn about definitive boundaries, contact the nations in question.
Also, this map is not perfect -- it is a work in progress with tons of contributions from the community."
The map is created and maintained by Native Land Digital.
"Native Land Digital is Indigenous-led, with an Indigenous Executive Director and Board of Directors who oversee and direct the organization. Numerous non-Indigenous people also contribute as members of [the] Advisory Council." (From native-land.ca "Native Land Disclaimer" and https://native-land.ca/about/our-team/)
Search tips
To help you better identify potential sources, take some time to list out potential search terms or keywords.
- Begin with common keywords like "Native American," Indigenous, "American Indian," or "First Peoples"
- Search by subject - "Indians of North America"
- Search by tribal names or names of cultural groups
- Combine common keywords or tribal names with topic areas for specific research
As you search, refine your terms based on the subjects or keywords identified in the articles or books that you've found. For additional information about finding and using subject terms, see the tutorials linked below.
