Taylor Keen's book explores Indigenous cosmology and history in North America, challenging Western narratives and revealing shared oral traditions and ancient earthen works. He examines the history of Cahokia and the Mississippian Mound Builder Empire, and challenges mainstream historical consensus regarding Thomas Jefferson, expansionist doctrine, and Manifest Destiny. Keen presents an Indigenous revisionist history that maintains the Native peoples' vision of an intrinsically shared humanity and environmental responsibility.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 18 July 2024
Publisher: Inner Traditions Bear and Company

An exploration of Indigenous cosmology and history in North America reveals a rich and complex tapestry of ancient and modern cultures. While Western accounts often begin with the arrival of European colonizers, Indigenous perspectives offer a much longer and more nuanced view of the region's past. Drawing on comparative analysis, firsthand Indigenous accounts, extensive historical writings, and his own experience, Omaha Tribal member, Cherokee Citizen, and teacher Taylor Keen presents a comprehensive re-imagining of the ancient and more recent history of this continent's oldest cultures. Examining the complexities and commonalities of Indigenous legends and creation myths, Keen reveals shared oral traditions across much of North America, including among the Algonquin, Athabascan, Sioux, Omaha, Ponca, Osage, Quapaw, and Kaw tribes. He explores the history of Cahokia, the Mississippian Mound Builder Empire of 1050-1300 CE, told through the dramatic story of Honga, a Native leader who is building a dynastic empire within the third largest city in the world at the time. He examines ancient earthen works and ceremonial sites of Turtle Island, revealing the Indigenous cosmology, sacred mathematics, and archaeoastronomy encoded in these places that artfully blend the movements of the sun, moon, and stars into the physical landscape. Challenging the mainstream historical consensus, Keen presents an Indigenous revisionist history regarding Thomas Jefferson, expansionist doctrine, and Manifest Destiny. He reveals how, despite being displaced as the United States colonized westward, the Native peoples maintained their vision of an intrinsically shared humanity and the environmental responsibility found at the core of Indigenous mythology. Building off a deep personal connection to the history and mythology of the First Peoples of the Americas, Keen offers a unique perspective on the past and present of Indigenous cultures in North America. His work challenges the dominant narrative of Western history and offers a more inclusive and accurate understanding of the region's rich and diverse cultural heritage.

An Exploration of Indigenous Cosmology and History in North America

While Western accounts of North American history traditionally start with European colonization, Indigenous histories of North America—or Turtle Island—stretch back millennia. Drawing on comparative analysis, firsthand Indigenous accounts, extensive historical writings, and his own experience, Omaha Tribal member, Cherokee Citizen, and teacher Taylor Keen presents a comprehensive re-imagining of the ancient and more recent history of this continents oldest cultures. Examining the complexities and commonalities of Indigenous legends and creation myths, Keen reveals shared oral traditions across much of North America, including among the Algonquin, Athabascan, Sioux, Omaha, Ponca, Osage, Quapaw, and Kaw tribes. He explores the history of Cahokia, the Mississippian Mound Builder Empire of 1050-1300 CE, told through the dramatic story of Honga, a Native leader who is building a dynastic empire within the third largest city in the world at the time. He examines ancient earthen works and ceremonial sites of Turtle Island, revealing the Indigenous cosmology, sacred mathematics, and archaeoastronomy encoded in these places that artfully blend the movements of the sun, moon, and stars into the physical landscape.

Challenging the Mainstream Historical Consensus

Challenging the mainstream historical consensus, Keen presents an Indigenous revisionist history regarding Thomas Jefferson, expansionist doctrine, and Manifest Destiny. He reveals how, despite being displaced as the United States colonized westward, the Native peoples maintained their vision of an intrinsically shared humanity and the environmental responsibility found at the core of Indigenous mythology.

Building Off a Deep Personal Connection to the History and Mythology of the First Peoples of the Americas

Building off a deep personal connection to the history and mythology of the First Peoples of the Americas, Keen offers a unique perspective on the past and present of Indigenous cultures in North America. His work challenges the dominant narrative of Western history and offers a more inclusive and accurate understanding of the region's rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 228 x 152 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781591435204