Rural Indigenousness: A History of Iroquoian and Algonquian Peoples of the Adirondacks

by Melissa Otis

The Adirondacks have been an Indigenous homeland for millennia, and the presence of Native people in the region was obvious but not well documented by Europeans, who did not venture into the interior between the seventeenth and early nineteenth centuries. Yet, by the late nineteenth century, historians had scarcely any record of their long-lasting and vibrant existence in the area. With Rural Indigenousness, Otis shines a light on the rich history of Algonquian and Iroquoian people, offering the first comprehensive study of the relationship between Native Americans and the Adirondacks. While Otis focuses on the nineteenth century, she extends her analysis to periods before and after this era, revealing both the continuity and change that characterize the relationship over time. Otis argues that the landscape was much more than a mere hunting ground for Native residents; rather, it a “location of exchange,” a space of interaction where the land was woven into the fabric of their lives as an essential source of refuge and survival. Drawing upon archival research, material culture, and oral histories, Otis examines the nature of Indigenous populations living in predominantly Euroamerican communities to identify the ways in which some maintained their distinct identity while also making selective adaptations exemplifying the concept of “survivance.” In doing so, Rural Indigenousness develops a new conversation in the field of Native American studies that expands our understanding of urban and rural indigeneity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Native American

377 pages, Hardcover

Published December 20, 2018

Reviews

[Michael Morrisey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book convincingly presents its central thesis: despite the assertions of popular 20th century historians and the map-makers who preceeded them, the Adirondacks has been more than just a hunting ground to Native Americans since before European contact all the way down to today. I appreciated the author's decision to familiarize readers with the names that Native American tribes call themselves by using those names alongside their more widely-known appellations, particularly Kanienkehaka for Mohawk. I think this was an important book for me to read as an American, but it is also a necessary supplement for any reader of Adirondack histories to counter the widespread myths and falsehoods on the subject. I'm already considering a re-read.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Otis has written what I believe will become the definitive reference for Adirondack history buffs. In it, using well researched and cited information, she debunks a "ton" of myths and tells many stories that were never told before. Any Adirondack enthusiast will find it a fact-filled pleasure to read. I loved it!