IST 605: Native American History of New York

Ned Blackhawk's The Rediscovery of America offers a transformative retelling of U.S. history that centers Native Americans as integral to the nation’s development. Spanning five centuries, Blackhawk reveals how Indigenous peoples shaped critical moments in history, from colonial conflicts and the American Revolution to the Civil War and modern legal and political activism. By challenging traditional narratives that marginalize Native contributions, the book highlights the agency, resilience, and survival of Native nations throughout American history. This groundbreaking work is required reading on Native American history for its comprehensive analysis of Indigenous influence on the broader historical landscape, providing essential context for understanding Native experiences and their lasting impact on the United States.

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States provides a sweeping and uncompromising account of U.S. history from the perspective of Indigenous peoples. The book exposes the genocidal policies of settler-colonial expansion and highlights Native resistance to the U.S. empire over four centuries. Dunbar-Ortiz challenges the founding myths of the United States, offering a critical lens through which to understand both historical injustices and their ongoing impact on Indigenous communities. This title is vital as it contextualizes the broader forces of displacement and resistance that shaped Indigenous experiences, including those of the Haudenosaunee and other tribes in the region, while connecting local histories to the national narrative.

David Treuer’s The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee offers a powerful counter-narrative to the idea that Native American history effectively ended with the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee. Drawing from his Ojibwe heritage, anthropological training, and extensive research, Treuer reveals a story of resilience, adaptation, and reinvention. By blending history, reportage, and memoir, the book explores how Native communities have preserved their languages, traditions, and sovereignty through intense struggles and innovative strategies. From legal battles over land to the unifying experiences of boarding schools, urban migration, and military service, Treuer demonstrates how Native Americans have actively shaped their modern identities and futures. Described as “moving and kaleidoscopic” by The New York Times, this work challenges myths about Indigenous history and offers fresh perspectives on American history itself.

Arlene B. Hirschfelder and Martha Kreipe de Montaño’s The Native American Almanac is a comprehensive and authoritative resource on the history, culture, and contemporary lives of Native Americans. Spanning from first contact with Europeans to modern issues of self-determination, the book provides detailed insights into Native-white relations, tribal locations, religious traditions, language, literature, and the contributions of Native performers and artists. Enhanced by maps, a detailed chronology, and contact information for organizations, the almanac also includes a guide to Native landmarks, museums, and cultural centers. Richly illustrated with photographs and drawings, this volume serves as an essential reference for understanding the diverse experiences and resilience of Native peoples across America.

Cindy Amrhein's A History of Native American Land Rights in Upstate New York critically examines the fraught and often deceptive land negotiations between the Iroquois Six Nations and American settlers in upstate New York. Through detailed historical analysis, Amrhein uncovers evidence of bribes, coerced signatures, and faulty surveys that led to significant territorial losses for the Six Nations. This book highlights the complex interplay between Native autonomy and settler expansion, offering essential insights into the lasting impacts of these unjust transactions. Its focus on land rights and the historical erasure of Indigenous claims makes it a vital resource for understanding the Native American history of New York and the enduring struggles for justice and sovereignty.

Melissa Otis's Rural Indigenousness offers a groundbreaking examination of the longstanding relationship between Native American communities and the Adirondacks, a region integral to Algonquian and Iroquoian histories. Focusing primarily on the nineteenth century but extending to earlier and later periods, Otis reveals the Adirondacks as more than a hunting ground—they were spaces of exchange, survival, and cultural identity. Through archival research, material culture, and oral histories, the book explores how Indigenous peoples navigated life within predominantly Euro-American communities, maintaining distinct traditions while adapting selectively. This work is as it challenges the historical erasure of Native presence in the Adirondacks and offers insights into the complex dynamics of rural indigeneity and cultural survival in the region.

Laurence M. Hauptman's Conspiracy of Interests explores the dramatic transformation of New York State between the American Revolution and the mid-nineteenth century, a period that saw rapid urban growth and the systematic displacement of the Iroquois. Hauptman reveals how state transportation projects, land speculation, and national defense strategies conspired to undermine Iroquois sovereignty, including efforts to impose taxation and jurisdiction over Native lands. By incorporating primary sources such as tribal records, personal correspondence, and petitions, Hauptman presents a nuanced portrait of a resilient culture under pressure. This book is essential reading as it provides a detailed account of the political, economic, and social forces that shaped the Iroquois' struggles to preserve their land and autonomy amidst relentless expansion.

James W. Oberly's A Nation of Statesmen: The Political Culture of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans, 1815–1972 provides a comprehensive history of the Mohican people, tracing their political and cultural resilience from their relocation to Wisconsin to the modern era. Oberly highlights their engagement with the American political system, including treaties, congressional acts, and the fight for tribal sovereignty, while addressing challenges such as tribal membership and internal political divisions. This title is counters the misconception that the Mohicans disappeared after European colonization, demonstrating instead their enduring identity and influence. The book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of tribal governance and sovereignty that are crucial to understanding Indigenous histories in the Northeast and beyond.

Rose Miron’s Indigenous Archival Activism examines the evolving struggle over who holds the right to represent Native American history. Centering on the fifty-year effort of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation and their Historical Committee—primarily led by Mohican women—the book showcases how tribal archives have become vital tools for reclaiming and reshaping Native history. Through a decade-long collaborative relationship with the tribe, Miron highlights how these efforts challenge traditional narratives and assert tribal control over historical materials. She also reflects on her role as a non-Mohican researcher, offering a thoughtful framework for ethical collaboration between Indigenous communities and academic institutions. This work underscores the power of archival activism to redefine historical representation and restore agency to Native nations.

Evan T. Pritchard's Native New Yorkers: The Legacy of the Algonquin People of New York explores the history and enduring influence of the Lenape and other Algonquin peoples who originally inhabited the New York region. Through historical research, interviews with Algonquin elders, and explorations of sacred sites, Pritchard reveals the deep cultural and spiritual connections these communities had with the land. The book offers maps, timelines, and a glossary of Algonquin words, making it an accessible and enriching resource.

Anne-Marie E. Cantwell and Diana diZerega Wall’s Unearthing Gotham delves beneath New York City to uncover the layers of history that shaped its present-day identity. Drawing on over a century of archaeological research, the authors explore the lives of the city’s diverse inhabitants—from the Native Americans who first arrived 11,000 years ago to the Dutch and English settlers, enslaved Africans, and nineteenth-century urban dwellers. Through the remnants of neighborhoods like Five Points and Washington Square, the book reveals the interconnected stories of these groups and their shared influence on the land. This work provides a rich and multifaceted portrait of New York’s hidden past, highlighting the city’s evolution across centuries of cultural and social transformation.

Joshua Jelly-Schapiro’s Names of New York is a captivating exploration of the stories embedded in the names of New York City’s streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks. By tracing the linguistic and cultural imprints left by the Lenape, Dutch settlers, British colonists, and waves of immigrants, the book reveals how naming shapes our sense of place and history. Jelly-Schapiro uncovers the origins of iconic names like Brooklyn and Harlem, visits forgotten corners of the city, and speaks with the last living Lenape speakers and linguists studying the city’s 800 languages. Blending historical insight with personal narrative, this work demonstrates how the evolving names of New York serve as windows to its past and tools to imagine its future.