Tiller's Guide to Indian Country: Economic Profiles of American Indian Reservations

Details the economic activities of Indian reservations

This is an updated version of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal and State Indian Reservations and Indian Trust Areas (1974). Almost one million acres of land have come under tribal jurisdiction since that government publication was issued. Information for this revision was provided by state governments and the tribes themselves. This book will be useful for students, government agencies, businesses, or tourists seeking details on the 587 federally and state recognized tribes and reservations in 36 states.

Arranged by state, individual entries include location and land status, culture and history, government, economic activity, infrastructure (highways, public transportation facilities), and community facilities. Since agriculture and tourism are often the primary activities, these are well documented. Contact information for each tribe is provided. Since some reservations cross state lines, there is a good cross-reference system leading to the state where an entry can be found. Most entries are about a page in length, but large reservations such as the Navajo Nation get several pages. Information on Alaskan communities is hard to find, and this book stands out for its comprehensive coverage of this region, especially the Alaska Native Corporation. Special introductory sections on Alaska, Idaho, and California give added insight into the history and culture of these states that account for more than one-half of all Indian reservations. A map locating reservations is provided for each state. The bibliography includes tribal sources, government publications, and newspaper and journal articles. The index is very detailed.

Tiller is a Jicarilla Apache and a historian. Her daughter took most of the black-and-white photographs that illustrate the book. Many of them show tribally owned businesses. This title is similar to Indian Reservations: A State and Federal Handbook (McFarland, 1986), although population and per capita income statistics are more current in Tiller. She has produced a stimulating book that will be an important purchase for many public and academic libraries.

The advent of on-reservation gambling has drawn the public's attention to the potential for economic development on American Indian land. As demonstrated in this well-organized guide by Tiller, an Apache scholar and author of Discover Indian Reservations USA (Council Pubns., 1992), these economies are developing in a number of different arenas. Arranged alphabetically by state, entries for each reservation provide basic statistical information, including land area, labor force, educational levels, unemployment rate, and population. A brief narrative describes the reservation's culture and history, government, location, business enterprises (including tourism), and community facilities. This guide updates Federal and State Reservations and Indian Trust Areas (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, 1974), but librarians should realize that essentially the same book will soon be available free of charge from the Economic Development Administration under the title American Indian Reservations and Trust Areas.
Mary B. Davis, Huntington Free Lib., Bronx, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.