When the public is presented with media accounts, public policy, and school curriculum concerning Indian people, the reaction may be curiosity, confusion, and even skepticism. How can we obtain a better understanding of such information? Indians of the Midwest addresses this question by highlighting research of scholars who provide insights about the cultures and histories of Indian peoples in the Midwest. Academic research can show how modern-day issues have roots in regional history and culture and provide necessary background for understanding contemporary issues.

Indians of the Midwest uses the Newberry Library’s collections to highlight recent scholarship on Native peoples of the Midwest and to make this information available on an educational website designed for the general public.