Environment, Ecology, Conservation: 10 Books On Green Topics From Our Collection

This update finds us eagerly awaiting the coming of Spring, and with it, the return of green leaves to the trees of Mashantucket. In that spirit, we present here a resource list on environmentally related topics from our Research Library collection.

Biodiversity and Native America / edited by Paul E. Minnis and Wayne J. Elisens. Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, c2000.

Endangered peoples : indigenous rights and the environment.
Niwot, CO : University Press of Colorado, c1994.

Forests in time : the environmental consequences of 1,000 years of change in New England / edited by David R. Foster and John D. Aber. New Haven, Conn. : Yale University Press, 2004.

How can one sell the air? : Chief Seattle’s vision / author, Chief Seattle ; editors, Eli Gifford, R. Michael Cook, and Warren Jefferson ; illustrations by Eleanor Dale Evans, Jerry Hutchens, and Warren Jefferson. Summertown, Tenn. : Native Voices, c2005.

Answering Chief Seattle / Albert Furtwangler. Seattle : University of Washington Press, c1997.

American Indian literature, environmental justice, and ecocriticism : the middle place / Joni Adamson. Tucson : University of Arizona Press, 2001.

Closing the circle : environmental justice in Indian country / James M. Grijalva. Durham, N.C. : Carolina Academic Press, c2008.

A comparison of the biblical and Native American views of the human relationship with nature / Kay Mooney Cox. Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Graduate Theological Union, 1979.

Defending mother earth : Native American perspectives on environmental justice / edited by Jace Weaver. Maryknoll, N.Y. : Orbis Books, 1996.

Ecocide of Native America : environmental destruction of Indian lands and peoples / Donald A. Grinde, Bruce E. Johansen ; foreword by Howard Zinn. Sante Fe, N.M. : Clear Light, c1995.

Even more resources may be found by searching our Online Catalog. Some suggested keywords: "human ecology", "natural history", "biodiversity", "environmental protection".

Online Genealogist - New England Historic Genealogical Society

Just discovered an online service from the New England Historic Genealogical Society that may be of interest to some of our patrons:

http://www.newenglandancestors.org/research/services/online_genealogist.asp

"Longtime NEHGS staff member David Allen Lambert is now available to offer you research guidance, orientation to online resources and library-based collections via email. He also will facilitate referrals to specific NEHGS staff experts and departments when required. This position will offer a new way to serve members and potential members of NEHGS. You are invited to submit research questions to David Allen Lambert at onlinegenealogist@nehgs.org. Please note that he will make every effort to reply to each message, but will respond on a first come, first-served basis. In some cases he may need to refer individuals to the NEHGS Research Service for more in-depth research services for a fee."

Images from Special Collections now available on Flickr

»» http://www.flickr.com/photos/pequotmuseumlibrary/ ««

As part of our continuing efforts to reach out to remote patrons and provide access to our materials, we have set up three preliminary Flickr galleries, which offer a glimpse into our Special Collections. If you are unfamiliar with Flickr, it is one of the largest image hosting websites, as well as an online community which encourages interaction among its users. So far, the we have made "friends" with New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Beinecke Library (Yale University) .

At the time of this blog post, digital images of select items from our Engravings, Early Maps, and Popular Culture collections are currently on view, with more to come in the future. Be sure to stop in again for updates. Or, you may subscribe to our Flickr page via RSS: Link to RSS feed

Vampires and Werewolves: Young Adult Novels by Native Authors

Are there any vampire books by Native authors? Yes, there are! Fans of the popular book and movie Twilight may also find these exciting stories by American Indians for YA* readers appealing:

The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel, written by Drew Hayden Taylor (Ojibway) was published in 2007 by Annick Press. It’s a compelling vampire story set on a First Nations community in Ontario where sixteen-year-old Tiffany is dealing with major mixed-up emotions about her exciting new boyfriend, her protective and strict father, and her absent, now pregnant, mother. It’s also about Pierre L’Errant-his 350 years as a vampire roaming the world until he gives into his strong longing to return to his Ojibway village. Well known for his play Toronto at Dreamer's Rock, Drew Hayden Taylor originally wrote this vampire story as a play and later expanded it into an excellent novel. You can read an interview with him about The Night Wanderer on Cynthia Leitich Smith’s blog at: http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2008/11/author-interview-drew-hayden-taylor-on.html.



Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek), in addition to her excellent web site and blog, often writes about contemporary American Indian youth. However, Tantalize is very different from her well-known YA book, Rain is Not My Indian Name. A dark fantasy, Tantalize is about Quincie Morris, high school senior, restaurant owner, and vampire who loves a werewolf.

Smith’s latest book is Eternal. From the promotional materials on her web site, it sounds like a winner: “In alternating points of view, Miranda and Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous and darkly hilarious love story for the ages. With diabolical wit, the author of Tantalize revisits a deliciously dark world where vampires vie with angels — and girls just want to have fangs.”

* What are YA books? They are books for young adults. Some YA books can be read and enjoyed by young teens in middle school while others appeal to high school and up readers-mostly due to their mature content.