D. L. Birchfield

In D. L. Birchfield's Field of Honor, a secret underground civilization of Choctaws, deep beneath the Ouachita Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, has evolved into a high-tech culture, supported by the labor of slaves kidnapped from the surface. Underground, long yellow rows of corn stand tall and ripe in immense, brightly lit greenhouses, and great games of stickball are played in the dark in huge stadiums with glowing balls. The twentieth century has been one long, golden summer for this underground Choctaw community, where nothing is more important than the ball games. Here Choctaw traditions are safe from the cultural genocide being waged in the world above. But crisis is about to strike the underground community, threatening its continued existence. Into this idyllic underground Choctaw world stumbles P. P. McDaniel, a half-blood Choctaw Marine Corps deserter from the Vietnam War who has the great misfortune of suffering from Stockholm Cowardice Syndrome Dysfunction. Reeling from culture shock and struggling for his own survival, McDaniel becomes entangled in political intrigue and an unlikely romance in this rich satire.

The proud people of the Navajo Nation continue to keep their history alive, and readers learn about that rich history in this book. As the largest reservation-based nation in North America, the Navajo Nation is connected by a shared past and a collective hope for a brighter future. Readers explore how the Navajo have fought to maintain their unique identity in the face of many obstacles. Also discovering the wonders of Navajo culture including elaborate ceremonies, beautiful clothing, and jewelry. This detailed look at Navajo life includes firsthand accounts of Navajo history, modern challenges facing this proud nation, and striking images that bring life to these fascinating facts.

The Cheyenne Nation has overcome many challenges since their time as a powerful Great Plains tribe in the nineteenth century. They have endured through relocation, battles for land, and economic struggles. Readers discover the strength and pride of the Cheyennes through important historical facts and stories of modern reservation life. They also explore the artistic and religious life of the Cheyennes. Detailed artwork and captivating photographs help readers get a well-rounded idea of the Cheyennes and their way of life.

Native American Peoples explores the cultures of some of the earliest residents of North America. Lively text covers each Native group's past and present, including descriptions of its traditional way of life, its relationships with other tribes and with European settlers and explorers, and its history through modern times. Suggested activities illuminate the cultures of the original Americans and their lives today.