Resources for: American Indian Studies

To find books:

1. Use Libraries Search (linked above) to find materials across University of Minnesota library collections and databases.
2. Enter your search terms into the large search box. If you know the title of the book enter it with quotation marks, e.g. "Braiding Sweetgrass"
3. Use filters to limit your results by material type to books.
4. Select the link for the title to see more information.
5. For e-books, select the link under View It.
6. For print books, you can:
   • Find it on the shelf: Go to the appropriate library with the call number (e.g. PR6068.O93 Z73 2009). 
   • Have it delivered to the front desk of a convenient library, your home, or residence hall (learn more about Get It): Under Get It sign in and click the Get It button. 
   • Request a book the library does not own: Use the request form for the digital delivery and interlibrary loan services. 

Whether you are searching in library databases, the library catalog, Google Scholar, or just plain Google, creating a good search query will help you to find relevant information. 

Keywords

Keywords are single words and phrases that describe your topic. Before and during the search process make a list of keywords. Write them down. In Asian American Studies names of tribes, communities, intersectional identities, practices, events, time periods, and geographic locations can provide useful keywords. Refine the list of keywords as you go.

It may be necessary to use terms that are more or less broad depending on the type of information you are seeking. Books and reference materials tend to use broader terms for easier browsing. Journal articles and archives tend to be more specific in scope.

Creating a search query

Taking the time to create a search query with your keywords will help you get better results whether searching a library database or even Google. Below are some tips and examples to help you create a useful search string.

• Use quotation marks to search words as a phrase, ex. "Black Hawk War"
• Use the word AND to link together concepts, ex. "Black Hawk War" AND treaties
• Use the word OR to search for synonyms, ex. "Black Hawk War" OR "Sauk War"

Subject headings

Each item on the bulleted list below links to the UMN library search by subject heading. Subject links appear in the catalog record for most items and can be helpful in narrowing a search. 

• Indians of North America
• Indigenous peoples of North America
• Native American Studies
• United States, Administration for Native Americans
• American literature -- Indian authors
• Dakota Indians
• Ojibwe Indians

Specific search terms for Native groups with lands in Minnesota

Using more specific terms will yield fewer results, but the results will be more relevant to your topic. Searching by the names of tribes and nations is one way to find more specific information. Some information, particularly historic information may be found using names and terms that are no longer considered the proper terms. In some cases, the language used to describe Native and Indigenous Peoples is offensive.

For more information on terminology describing American Indian groups in Minnesota try the Why Treaties Matter Terminology Primer.

Terms used for Native American groups and nations in Minnesota:

• Dakota Indians 
• Sioux
• Anishinaabe
• Ojibwe (sometimes Ojibwa, Ojibway, Otchipwe) 
• Chippewa

List of federally recognized Indian tribes in Minnesota.

Use the Native Land map to view ancestral lands and the effects of treaties on tribal boundaries.