The People: Indians of the American Southwest

This ambitious, lavishly produced volume by author and photographer Trimble ( Our Voices, Our Land ) provides an overview of the history of the many Indian tribes living in the American Southwest. After giving a good summary of relations between Native Americans and the dominant culture, Trimble turns to the individual tribes. Both well-known groupings, such as the Navajo, and smaller ones, such as the Hualapai and the Chemehuevi, are included. Each entry begins with a general history of the tribe, but it is not meant to be exhaustive. The emphasis is always on the contemporary situation of the tribe as its members cope with both the pressures of the late 20th century and their minority status. The book is targeted as an introduction for non-specialists. In this, Trimble manages to succeed reasonably well, though minor factual errors and some controversial claims--such as his statement that the Yaqui did not consider themselves American Indians before the 1970s--may confuse those unfamiliar with Native American affairs. The volume contains many beautiful color photographs taken by Trimble, as well as numerous black-and-white historical illustrations and maps. Regional promotion; author tour. (Oct.)