Indigenous Ingenuity: A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge

by Deidre Havrelock, Edward Kay

This beautifully designed, interactive nonfiction work celebrates North American Indigenous thinkers and inventions—perfect for fans of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.  ​

" An astonishing, exuberant treasure trove of history, science and hands-on activities that repeatedly begs the "Why didn't I know this?" Essential for kids and adults.  We need this book. " —Candace Fleming, award-winning author of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh and The Family Romanov

Corn. Chocolate. Fishing hooks. Boats that float. Insulated double-walled construction. Recorded history and folklore. Life-saving disinfectant. Forest fire management. Our lives would be unrecognizable without these, and countless other, scientific discoveries and technological inventions from Indigenous North Americans.

Spanning topics from transportation to civil engineering, hunting technologies, astronomy, brain surgery, architecture, and agriculture,  Indigenous Ingenuity  is a wide-ranging STEM offering that answers the call for Indigenous nonfiction by reappropriating hidden history. The book includes fun, simple activities and experiments that kids can do to better understand and enjoy the principles used by Indigenous inventors. Readers of all ages are invited to celebrate traditional North American Indigenous innovation, and to embrace the mindset of reciprocity, environmental responsibility, and the interconnectedness of all life. 

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, History, Middle Grade, Science, Audiobook, Childrens

272 pages, Hardcover

Published May 9, 2023

About the author

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Reviews

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading for the second time for a project. Outstanding, credible resource.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I got this book from my local public library, but this is going on my Amazon Wishlist aka my holiday gift (for me) guide.

The book adopts the point of view of Indigenous Peoples from North America (aka Turtle Island).
This demonstrates that various frameworks exist for understanding nature, science, medicine, art, history, politics, education, etc. It's good to embrace multiperspectivity, and Indigenous Peoples have a lot to contribute to contemporary issues.

I can see readers as young as 9 years old enjoying this book, but it has a lot to offer adults. It's probably designed for middle grade readers, but too many high schoolers, young adults and fully "grown up" readers do not know this information! The Europeans diminished the abilities of the native peoples as part of their means of conquering. We would all be enriched if we paid attention to the expertise of the First Nations--and not in a way that appropriates them into our framework. We need to change our framework through dialogue and collaborate projects based on mutual respect.

Most chapters have activities that implement the knowledge and techniques of indigenous peoples of North America.

There is some front matter (A Note from the Authors, Language Recognition) in addition to the Introduction to help orient the readers.

Introduction: The content is an overview of the book; however, the effect is to ease readers to see through a different set of eyes.

Ch. 1 Sustainable Land Management and Ecology includes examples of conservation for fishing, farming, forestry, etc. among Native People (an estimated 8 to 112 million people) prior to European contact. The end of the chapter explains the practice and wisdom of cultural burning of plants.

Ch. 2 Transportation describes an array of vehicles showing various building techniques and favorable features of each design. Principles of physics and engineering are at play in the workings of canoes, dogsleds, kayaks, umiaqs, travois, and bull boats.

Ch. 3 Communications Technology is exhibited in the patterns of wampum belts and strings, Plains Indian Sign Language, books made with bark (see Maya codices for early examples), petroglyphs, hiertoglyphs, pictograms, birchbark scrolls (the Winter Count of Long Dog, a Yanktonai Sioux), inuksuk (stone marker), and totem poles.

Ch. 4 Agriculture and Food Technology looks at truly native food (prior to European contact) and looks at the contributions of corn, popcorn, gum, raised beds (indigenous term chinampas), irrigation, milpa (which the three sisters method exhibits: beans, corn, squash), maple syrup, thermodynamics, the four medicines (sage, sweetgrass, red cedar, and tobacco), chocolate, and more.

I have had this too long, and the library wants it back! Get a copy today (through your PL or your local bookseller).

Ch. 5 Health Sciences

Ch. 6 Textile Technology

Ch. 7 Architecture and Civil Engineering

Ch. 8 Hunting and Combat Technology

Ch. 9 Mathematics

Ch. 10 Arts, Sports, and Recreation

Ch. 11 Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Our Sustainable Future

Back Matter: Epilogue, Acknowledgements, Map, Cultural Areas and Peoples Referenced, Glossary, Indigenous Science today: Contemporary Indigenous Science Organizations, Selected Bibliography, Source Notes, Index.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost 1 star due to the couple of instances I found of misinformation regarding Mesoamerican people (i.e. the Maya did not construct the great pyramid of Cholula and Olmec civilization was not centered on the Yucatan peninsula). I saw a lot of oversimplification around cultures I knew more about, so I wonder what I might have missed regarding those about which I'm less knowledgeable.

[Lgordo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I read it hoping to learn more in depth about Native American culture and inventions.

Admittedly I am about 20 years older than the intended audience for this book. If I was 10, the info in here might be new. As an adult, there was very little I didn't know, and zero depth to that. The book briefly mentions a number of inventions that I had to research myself, just to get a photo.

Therein lies another complaint. This book has very few photos.


But most irritating, it uses STEM terms wrong. "Science" describes a controlled, iterative, systematic study. Taking a bath so you don't get sick is not science. Noticing that fermented saguaro juice etches seashells is not science. I had similar (although lesser) issue with its use of "technology" and "engineering".

It was so unnecessary. The use of "science," "technology," and "engineering" were entirely superfluous to the goal of the book. Ingenuity exists outside of science. But this book keeps trying to jam Indigenous American achievements into a modern paradigm. It came off as a needy bid to be seen as relevant.

The book insists on referring to America as "Turtle Island" and pokes fun at those ignorant, backward Europeans, and then it turns around and begs to be seen as excellent in western disciplines!

If you are young and don't know much about pre-Columbian America, this is a very basic primer.

[WaywardCrow Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an excellent book. It’s sad to say that I learned more about Indigenous cultures and scientific advancements from this one book than I did in over 17 years of schooling. It’s amazing how much they created years ahead of Europeans but heartbreaking how little credit is given. I’m glad that recent years have ushered in a greater appreciation and awareness of other cultures, including Indigenous cultures. It’s also very angering and ironic how much we are now looking to Traditional Ecological Knowledge to solve the issues that were created by a complete disregard for the earth and Indigenous ways of cultivating it. I hope through increased education younger generations will support the fight for tribal sovereignty and recognition.

[Shaunna MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This book was absolutely amazing. I was so enthralled I couldn’t stop listening (audiobook)! The ingenuity described and connected with modern day uses, as well as comparisons to contemporaries in other parts of the world were very interesting.
I will be recommending this book for all libraries in our district - suitable for both Elementary and Secondary.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully designed, interactive nonfiction work celebrates North American Indigenous thinkers and inventions.

[kim child of the god of thunder · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet little book! I love the focus on Indigenous STEM/ingenuity. Perfect for kids, but honestly, there are more than a few adults who could benefit from reading this too!

[Cirila Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so interesting to listen to so many things we use today is all things that indigenous peoples across turtle island created

[Marci Laevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a non-fiction reader unless I have a specific reason to need to learn something. This was full of good information about Indigenous ways and different knowledge and techniques that the tribes have been using since "time immemorial." It just isn't that interesting to me. It's a "me" problem :)

[YourBookishLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigenous Ingenuity is an absolute must-read book.

Evidence of Indigenous ingenuity surrounds us and yet so few of us know anything about it. Through colonization, Indigenous Peoples have lost important connections to their Traditional Knowledge and this book made me reflect more on that. It also made me sad that non-Indigenous folks have also lost the true history of so many of these inventions and innovations. For example, Sigmund Freud is widely regarded as the “inventor” of talk therapy, but did you know the Aztecs, Haudenosaunee, and the Hurons had already been using the concept to help their people for thousands of years? Long before Sigmund’s time, Indigenous folks understood the value of mental health. As I read, I discovered hundreds of these “inventions” that we attribute to others, or worse, don’t even consider the origins of. This book shines a light on all of these hidden histories. I couldn’t help but think, if more people could read this and understand how important the contributions of Indigenous folks are, that maybe reconciliation wouldn’t be so far off.

Interspersed throughout the book are fun activities you can try for yourself. I tried making the Mexica Hot Chocolate and it was delicious! 10 out of 10, would recommend. With lots of photos and helpful explainer boxes, this book makes learning fun and easy.

Although this book is marketed as a book for kids, I would say this is a book for everyone. Adults will get just as much from reading it. Anyone interested in the origins or history of the things we use everyday will find this book an absolute treat. It would make an excellent resource for teachers as well. As they teach social studies, science, math and art, including information from this book would undoubtedly make every lesson not only more accurate, but more robust too.

Indigenous Ingenuity is a wonderful and well-deserved celebration of all the incredible and important contributions of Indigenous Peoples. I highly recommend picking it up.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews: https://yourbookishlife.com/book-revi...

[Keeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating collection of information about North American indigenous accomplishments in the pre-contact era, organized around STEM themes. There are many inventions outlined in the book that I either had never heard of (e.g. Maya lighthouses) or didn't understand the value of (obsidian scalpels), while others are well-known but not usually understood within a big picture of technological achievement (canoe manufacture methods). This book could inspire a lot of great ideas for science projects (and a few bad ones -- herbal remedies that can be hazardous at the wrong dosage, for example, would need to result on a good school-based IRB-style process). It should also inspire a deeper respect for indigenous accomplishments.
The only reason I am not giving this book five stars is because its topical organization leads to an ahistorical perspective. Occasionally, European, Asian and Arab scientific or medical achievement is compared unfavorably to indigenous American scientific or medical achievement in a way that ignores history (e.g., lumping millennia together, looking at only one stereotyped region, or ignoring the impact of external factors like pandemics). This has been done to the detriment of indigenous people for *ages,* but that doesn't make it a good rhetorical stance. Believing everything the Enlightenment wrote about the Middle Ages is just as questionable as believing everything the Enlightenment wrote about North American peoples.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book at the local library and decided to get it on a whim. I didn't read the inside sleeve to see what it was about. I just started reading it. This book is a must read! It explains what the Indigenous people had accomplished prior to colonialism (pre-contact era). It does go into some explanations but it doesn't go into depth. I feel the purpose of this book is to hit main points to show what they did before Europeans. It explains their way of life and the things they created to work with Mother Earth instead of against her. It is still informative.

The indigenous people understood the land and how to take what they needed without harmful acts. They used every part of the animal. They knew that bathing was important long before science discovered germs and bacteria. They knew how to work with the land and how to reduce or prevent raging wildfires. Their knowledge is important and should be acknowledged. Their knowledge should be used now to help save Mother Earth. I believe their knowledge has many answers we need to fix some of the problems we have now.

Water, food, and family were more important to them than precious metals. In the end, they were labeled as savages, when in truth they were only protecting their way of life against strange looking strangers. Europeans were immigrants who, for the most part, wanted to take instead of learn and work with the Real People.

[Erin]

What this book did so well for me is to demonstrate the interconnectedness of innovation, technology, the world around us, and daily life. There aren't people over here "doing science" in a lab, but scientific observation, trial, and conclusions are taking place over generations of Native Americans. And these developments are taking place alongside surviving, cultural development, and the creation of art.

It's jarring to keep reading about how Indigenous folks did so many of these things before Europeans. At first it felt a little forced, but then it just reinforced how much we have collectively ignored our own nation's history. My biggest complaint might be just how much information is stuffed into this one book, and my hope would be that as time goes by more of this information will find its way into other books and discussions about innovations and history, and it won't all need to be in one overwhelming place.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give this to fans of "Braiding Sweetgrass." Both are explorations of the cleverness of indigenous inventions and ways of sustainably interacting with the environment. With an emphasis on Indigenous use of science, technology, engineering and math to not only survive but to thrive over thousands of years, this is both a long-overdue celebration and a call for collaboration. Included are various experiments that children can try on their own (try doing math using the Mayan way) or with the aid of an adult (such as in heating milk to make Mexican hot chocolate). In many areas, the authors point out that Indigenous ways were superior to European ways at the time of contact, from Mayan math (which included the concept of zero), to size of their cities, to health care (Europeans had poorer diets and relied on bloodletting and prayers for healing), even to bathing. One of the 2 authors is an enrolled tribal member.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the concept of this book, and the content was interesting. I rated it 3.5 stars (and rounded up) because the audience was a bit unclear. I picked up this book in the children's section of my favorite bookstore, and some of the text, as well as activities and diagrams embedded throughout, seemed geared for middle grade readers (like my students). But many other parts of the content -particularly the vocabulary, fluency, and descriptions- required a much more sophisticated reader. We'll see if this one engages my students... but I am thankful to have read it.

[Max Boock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of Turtle Island’s indigenous peoples’ science and technology pre-European contact. A lot of this was new information to me and really put things into perspective. I really appreciated this book. Its intended audience is younger people, probably teens, but it was well organized and engaging. It would be cool if the same author(s) put together a comprehensive study of STEM ingenuity for North American indigenous peoples because I know there’s a lot that was left out of this condensed version.

[Steph Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book that is full of interesting information and folklore. It covers all kinds of inventions and ideas from Indigenous North Americans. Some of the chapters include math, art, sports, food, health, ecological knowledge, and much more. The topics are broken into smaller sections to help you absorb them and there are a great array of activities, pictures, and a helpful glossary. This is a great book to learn more about North American Indigenous innovations and history.

[Hilary Margitich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book which highlights the inventions and discoveries of Native Americans, some of which have been unfortunately forgotten, and some which have become part of our lives to this day. I recently read THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE by Louise Erdrich, which provided a detailed look at the day to day workings of Native Americans and whet my appetite further for this kind of subject matter. This is a nice nonfiction companion to that book, for the classroom or at home.

[Kylie Wetherell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly amazing book for people of all ages. I learned so much from this book about how different indigenous groups lived and all the scientific discoveries that they made. As a kid I remember learning about Native Americans in a way that made them seem primitive when in actuality they discovered effective and efficient ways of doing things that are still being used today, many of which were claimed by white men much later in history. Must read!

[Gemington · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: colonialism, cultural loss, appropriation

This was a lovely celebration of Indigenous North American contributions to STEM. It takes an accessible format the combines storytelling with a list organization by topic. The tone is very positive and there is a real investment in wonder and delight. The topics covered are vast as are the different cultures that are included. I’d like to see so much more of this! I have so much more to learn.

[Joe Corrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of interesting perspectives on indigenous culture, history, science, technology and environmental awareness. As a factual reference it is very enlightening. What it gives you is a greater understanding of how sophisticated indigenous cultures were pre-colonization and how much North American has lost due to the western belief in the "Doctrine of Discovery". It is an edited publication so I found it pedantic to read though I will keep it as a valued reference source.

[Thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every human being needs to read this. There is a message for global survival here. A respectful co- existance with nature. Are we willing to work and do without the many toxic convenience at the root of our social and ecological issues?

The book is well written reminder to the white settler of how much knowledge and skill the people of Turtle Island had before we got here and how likely the land would have been healthier if we' d behaved as respectful guests instead of brutal invaders.

[Jessica Berger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book really showcasing Indigenous ingenuity that was left out of the curriculum I had growing up in the US. It puts to bed a lot of the harmful misconceptions notions of Indigenous people and uplifts their countless contributions! I only took off a star because it can read like a textbook at times

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read/skim/browse this one!! I got so many STEM/project-based ideas for any/all content/grade-level teachers, and as a white person trying to make sense and move forward in the world we are living in today!i loved how the authors broke down Indigenous culture and history into a bite-sized and engaging way.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed full of beautiful Indigenous knowledge and culture! I learned so much about Indigenous innovative designs and contributions. I could see classes breaking a part each chapter and diving deep into this learning. There are so many great activities that could be done and STEM connections- I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my classes!

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book but was disappointed. The book is boring and quite biased at times. You don’t have to tear down other people to celebrate your own. It could also use more pictures. The few pictures included are in black and white. There were some cool facts, but it was like trudging through mud to get to the end of this book.

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the origins of talk therapy, the controversy of the number 0, and the process of brain dyeing leather to be the most interesting. This book goes a great job of highlighting a number of tribes rather than focusing on just one. The activities you can do to replicate some of the STEAM topics in the book are doable & I can imagine they are great for classroom settings.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important look at the many ways Indigenous people have contributed to society but have not been acknowledged. Interspersed with interesting and fun activities for students. I love the way it made me reframe my way of looking at different events, inventions, ways of interacting with the environment, etc. Highly recommend

[Mark Bourdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I listened to the audiobook while traveling. There was a lot of very good, informative and interesting information, but the structure of the book and exercises made this book more adaptable to print or an ebook, not as adaptive to an audiobook. That is why I gave it a 4 instead of a 5.