Reference Sources
Reference materials are an excellent starting point for acquiring a broad overview of your topic. Items with REF call numbers are reserved for in-library use only. Those with links are available online to registered Portage College Library users. Depending on your topic, you may want to consult the following tools:
DIRECTORIES
First Nations Tribal Directory
Canadian and U.S. listings
REF 970.1025 FIR
A Guide to Aboriginal Organizations in Alberta
970.4123 GUI 2000
Aboriginal Organizations in Alberta
This directory, updated quarterly, contains contact particulars for First Nations, Métis Settlements and a number of Aboriginal service organizations active in areas such as economic development, employment, friendship centres and social services.
HANDBOOKS & GUIDES
St. James Guide to Native North American Artists
Over 350 entries on Native artists representing a broad range of art forms. Coverage includes United States and Canada. Entries provide listings of major exhibitions, collections and publications as well as a brief essay on their work and significance. Some illustrations in black & white. Tribe, geographic and medium indexes.
REF 704.0397 STJ 1997
Handbook of North American Indians
Organized by major culture areas.
REF 970.1 HAN vols. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15
The Indians of Canada
First published in 1932, a valuable description of tribes by culture area. Also includes chapters on languages, economic conditions, social life, folklore, etc.
REF 970.41 JEN
DICTIONARIES
Cree Language Resource Project Cree Dictionary
Miyo Wahkohtowin Community Education Authority (MWCEA) and Dr. Earle Waugh Dir. Center for Culture & Health Family Medicine, University of Alberta (U of A) are partnering to develop a web based interactive First Nations language portal with dictionary and curriculum based resources to further the development for Cree language in Canada. The Cree Language Resource Project (CLRP) dictionary will have the ability to translate words from English to Cree in Syllabics and Roman Orthography (Cree written in English) with explanation of how it fits in a sentence. The translated word will be associated with a picture, sound and a video clip. The goal of the project is to promote the learning and preservation of the Cree language. The online dictionary will have the ability to accommodate different regional Cree dialects.
News Release, March 19, 2009:
Ensuring the Preservation and Promotion of the Cree Language: The Government of Canada Supports Online Language Portal
Dictionary of Native American Mythology
Who is Coyote? What is the Buffalo Bull Ceremony? An alphabetical guide to the mythology and ceremonies of hundreds of Native North American cultures. REF 299.703 GIL
Oxford English Dictionary [20 volumes]
REF 423 OXF 1989
If off-campus, contact Public Services Librarian for username/password.
ENCYCLOPEDIAS
Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes 4vols.
Organized by major cultural areas, then alphabetically by major tribes. Provides detailed historical, cultural and current information on over 400 Native groups.
REF 970.1 GAL 1998
The Encyclopedia Of North American Indians 11 vols.
Organized alphabetically, the encyclopedia has good short articles which are well illustrated with color photos, and many include short bibliographies. Covers all major tribes and aspects of Native life.
REF 970.1 ENC 1997
The Encyclopedia of American Folk Art
Illustrated with both black and white and full-color photos, this A-Z encyclopedia covers every aspect of American folk art, encompassing not only painting, but also sculpture, basketry, ceramics, quilts, furniture, toys, beadwork, and more, including both famous and lesser-known genres. Check out the article under Native American Folk Art.
NATIVE LAWS AND TREATIES
Consolidated Native Law Statutes, Regulations and Treaties 2000
REF 342.0872 CON
The Law of Canadian Indian Treaties
REF 342.0872 REI
Native Law
REF 342.0872 WOO
STATISTICS
First Nations of Alberta. Indian Register Population. December, 1997
REF 970.4123 FIR
GENERAL COLLECTION
e-library & Library of Congress Subject Headings
The e-library is the Library's computerized catalogue. It is the listing of books, videos, and journals available in the Library. You can locate material on specific topics by performing a Subject Heading search. Portage College Library uses Library of Congress Subject Headings.
The main Subject Heading used for topics relevant to Native Arts & Culture studies is Indians of North America. Since there are over 600 headings under Indians of North America, it is advisable to limit your search by using subdivisions. For example:
Indians of North America--Alberta
Indians of North America--Art
Indians of North America--Costume
Indians of North America--Folklore
The Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification System to group books and videos together by subject on the library shelves. The call number on the e-library corresponds to the number on the label on the spine of the book (e.g. 155.4 BEE).
Examples
970s - History of Native Peoples in and folklore
700s - Native People Art
323.1197 - Native/government relations
398s - Indians of North America Folklore
Periodicals: Newspapers, Journals & Magazines
Periodicals are published at regular intervals, generally more frequently than annually. Each issue is numbered and/or dated consecutively, and normally contains separate articles, stories, or other writings. Scanning current issues of periodicals in your subject area can be useful when you are trying to think of a topic.
The Portage College Library has a diverse collection of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and Academic Journals, including back issues, found in the Periodicals section of the Library.Here are some titles in our collection:
Magazines
Aboriginal Times (Business publication)
American Indian Art
AIQ (American Indian Quarterly - Academic)
Bead & Button
Canadian Art Native Peoples
Otipamisiwak (published by the Métis Nation of Alberta)
Newspapers
Alberta Sweet Grass
The Edmonton Journal
The Globe & Mail
Lac La Biche Post
National Post
Windspeaker
Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health is a peer reviewed, web-based journal published twice each year by Native Counselling Services of Alberta and the Alberta ACADRE Network. The articles are multidisciplinary, and of interest to a wide range of readers, including both community and academic researchers.
Ask staff for assistance in finding online periodicals, or see below.
Finding Journal Articles
An electronic database is an index of articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. Portage Library subscribes to a number of Web-based electronic databases. For a complete listing of these databases, please see this list and consult with a library staff on the appropriate database(s) to use for your research needs. The databases that you will find useful for your studies are:
Academic OneFile has extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects. Updated daily.
Academic Search Complete is the world's most comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database.
Bibliography of Native North Americans covers all aspects of native North American culture, history, and life covering a wide range of topics including archaeology, multicultural relations, gaming, governance, legend, and literacy. It contains more than 80,000 citations for books, essays, journal articles, and government documents of the United States and Canada. Dates of coverage for included content range from the sixteenth century to the present.
Canadian Newsstand offers access to the full text of Canadian newspapers.
CPI.Q. (Canadian Periodicals) provides access to articles from Canadian magazines, newspapers and journals including Globe and Mail, Canadian Biographies, Alberta Venture, Alberta Business, etc. Full-text articles are available.
MasterFILE Premier
Covering virtually every subject area of general interest, MasterFILE Premier also includes nearly 500 full text reference books, biographies, primary source documents, and an Image Collection of photos, maps and flags. Updated daily.
Access to databases is restricted to the Portage College students, faculty and staff.
Web Sites
The Internet is a rich source of material. The sites listed here are just a starting point. If you are looking for a specific topic, try typing keywords into one of the basic search tools such as Yahoo, AltaVista, Google, etc.
Alberta Aboriginal Relations works with Aboriginal communities and other partners to enhance social and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people in Alberta. Cradle Boards Exploring Native American and Hispanic Culture Indian and Northern Affairs Canada provides access to legislation and bills, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, art, entrepreneurs, etc. Native American Varieties of Moccasins If you are interested in a particular craft, ask library staff to find useful web sites for you.
Access to Justice Network
An electronic community dedicated to making law and justice resources available to Canadians. Browse by subject, including Aboriginal Peoples
Canadian Museum of Civilization
A virtual museum site, featuring a First People’s Hall. Especially good on Northwest Coast Indians.
A collection of cradle boards from the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Native American and Hispanic cultures are steeped rich in history and diversity. However, they are distinctly different by traditions and nations. Those differences are often what makes teaching these cultures difficult. This resource lists lesson plans and/or activities for teaching these unique cultures
Native American Authors provides information on Native North American authors with bibliographies of their published works, biographical information, and links to online resources including interviews, online texts and tribal websites. Currently the website primarily contains information on contemporary Native American authors, although some historical authors are represented. Can be searched by author, title and tribe.
NativeTech
Covers topics related to Native American technology with an emphasis on Eastern Woodlands: beadwork, feathers, leather, quills, etc.
Waaban Aki Crafting
A commercial site, but has good information on native crafts including a “How to” section.
Native Web
Resources for Indigenous Cultures around the World
WWW Virtual Library - American Indians
Index of Native American Native American Teaching Resources on the Internet.
The Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA)
