Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask - by Anton Treuer

About the Book

"Based on the [adult-level] book [of the same name] ... published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012"--Copyright page.

Book Synopsis

From the acclaimed Ojibwe author and professor Anton Treuer comes an essential book of questions and answers for Native and non-Native young readers alike. Ranging from "Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?" to "Why is it called a 'traditional Indian fry bread taco'?" to "What's it like for natives who don't look native?" to "Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?", and beyond, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition) does exactly what its title says for young readers, in a style consistently thoughtful, personal, and engaging.

Updated and expanded to include:

- Dozens of New Questions and New Sections--including a social activism section that explores the Dakota Access Pipeline, racism, identity, politics, and more!
- Over 50 new Photos
- Adapted text for broad appeal

Review Quotes

"An essential book of questions and answers for Native and non-Native young readers."- IllumiNative,


"A wide-ranging compendium of provocative questions and satisfying answers is well organized around history, culture, politics, activism, identity, the future and more. Perfect for browsing or a deep dive. From a new imprint dedicated to publishing previously underrepresented voices, his most essential book succeeds in promoting better understanding for everyone."-San Francisco Chronicle,


"A comprehensive and stimulating read."-Shelf-Awareness,


"A personal, reflective, yet thoroughly grounded take on the present as well as the past, and it's a great starting place for young readers beginning to ask these exact questions." -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,


"An excellent resource that should be in every middle and high school."-School Library Connection,


"This is a thoughtful, useful book. If every middle school kid in the country knew its contents, the upcoming generation of Indians and non-Indians could live side-by-side with far more ease."-The Circle News,


"This would be a good resource for readers to begin learning about Native American histories, lives, and cultures."-Horn Book,


"Treuer imbues his research and cultural commentary with both humanity and style. An astonishing depth of knowledge and insight complements his conversational writing voice. Treuer's latest release should be on every American bookshelf - and in every American history classroom." -Cowboys and Indians,


[STAR] "Reading this book is like enjoying a talk with a close relative who wants you to learn, grow, and continue to ask questions. This book is an important resource about contemporary North American Indigenous peoples. -Recommend for all libraries."-School Library Journal (starred),


[STAR] "Wise, well-researched, and not to be missed. This collection of short essays about Native Americans is comprehensive, equitable, and generous."-Kirkus (starred),

About the Author

Dr. Anton Treuer (pronounced troy-er) is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and author of 19 books. His equity, education, and cultural work has put him on a path of service around the region, the nation, and the world. He has a B.A. from Princeton University and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He is Editor of the Oshkaabewis (pronounced o-shkaah-bay-wis) Native Journal, the only academic journal of the Ojibwe language. Dr. Treuer has presented all over the U.S. and Canada and in several foreign countries on Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask, Cultural Competence & Equity, Strategies for Addressing the "Achievement" Gap, and Tribal Sovereignty, History, Language, and Culture. He has sat on many organizational boards and has received more than 40 prestigious awards and fellowships, including ones from the American Philosophical Society, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Bush Foundation, and the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation.

His published works include Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask, The Language Warrior's Manifesto: How to Keep Our Languages Alive No Matter the Odds, Warrior Nation: A History of the Red Lake Ojibwe (Winner of Caroline Bancroft History Prize and the American Association of State and Local History Award of Merit), Ojibwe in Minnesota ("Minnesota's Best Read for 2010" by The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress), The Assassination of Hole in the Day (Award of Merit Winner from the American Association for State and Local History), Atlas of Indian Nations, The Indian Wars: Battles, Bloodshed, and the Fight for Freedom on the American Frontier, and Awesiinyensag ("Minnesota's Best Read for 2011" by The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress).

Treuer is on the governing board for the Minnesota State Historical Society. In 2018, he was named Guardian of Culture and Lifeways and recipient of the Pathfinder Award by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums.