Restoring a Presence: American Indians and Yellowstone National Park

by Peter Nabokov, Lawrence Loendorf

Placing American Indians in the center of the story, Restoring a Presence relates an entirely new history of Yellowstone National Park.

Although new laws have been enacted giving American Indians access to resources on public lands, Yellowstone historically has excluded Indians and their needs from its mission. Each of the other flagship national parks—Glacier, Yosemite, Mesa Verde, and Grand Canyon—has had successful long-term relationships with American Indian groups even as it has sought to emulate Yellowstone in other dimensions of national park administration.

In the first comprehensive account of Indians in and around Yellowstone, Peter Nabokov and Lawrence Loendorf seek to correct this administrative disparity. Drawing from archaeological records, Indian testimony, tribal archives, and collections of early artifacts from the Park, the authors trace the interactions of nearly a dozen Indian groups with each of Yellowstone’s four geographic regions.

Restoring a Presence is illustrated with historical and contemporary photographs and maps and features narratives on subjects ranging from traditional Indian uses of plant, mineral, and animal resources to conflicts involving the Nez Perce, Bannock, and Sheep Eater peoples. By considering the many roles Indians have played in the complex history of the Yellowstone region, authors Nabokov and Loendorf provide a basis on which the National Park Service and other federal agencies can develop more effective relationships with Indian groups in the Yellowstone region.

Genres: Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Peter Nabokov is professor of American Indian Studies and World Arts and Cultures at UCLA. His previous books include A Forest of Time, Native American Testimony, Native American Architecture (with Robert Easton), Indian Running, Two Leggings: The Making of a Crow Warrior, and Architecture of Acoma Pueblo

Reviews

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book does a good job of recounting the historical presence of Native Americans in Yellowstone, it mostly talks about these peoples in the past tense. I would like to see a book that highlights what these groups are doing today, and how they are still interacting with and influencing Yellowstone National Park.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although somewhat dry as a result of its commitment to scientific research, overall this book provides and enlightening view on the history Native American use and experience with Yellowstone national park. The thorough detail of all tribes related to the park and the present day status of the tribes answers many questions about the park that are always in my mind when I visit. I know my personal experience of Yellowstone and the surrounding areas will be deeper now that I am more familiar with the Native American history.