A Native American Thought of It: Amazing Inventions and Innovations is the second title in the Annick Press series, We Thought of It. This volume carries on from the Inuit book by focusing on the contributions made by First Peoples of North America including Canada and the United States. The publisher notes that terminology is often inconsistent when referring to First Nations in Canada and Native Americans in the USA. The publisher chose to use the term Native American to encompass all Indigenous Peoples of North America. The chapters are organized around topics such as shelter, hunting, fishing, food, clothing, medicine and healing, transportation, communication, fun, war and peace, and Native Americans today. Each topic contains either a two-page or four-page spread and explains the material with photographs, illustrations, and brief text selections. The book tries to cover all the major cultural regions of North American with individual Nation examples included. The book contains a useful map, an introduction, index, and reading list. Occasionally the captions for illustrations could be specific. For example, the archival photograph of the Six Nations Chiefs holding wampum belts are described as Native chiefs, dressed in European clothes, hold wampum belts. The Native Americans Today section features information that reinforces the fact that Aboriginal Peoples of North American are still here and more importantly retain their cultural integrity within contemporary society. This title is also available in a hardcover edition. This book is selected as a recommended title in the 2009 First Nations Libraries Community Reads program. Intermediate Spring 2012
