This book describes the nature of 13 native american groups as they were prior to white domination as they have become in the last half of the twentieth century. Particular groups were selected because information concerning them was sufficient for the then and now time perspective of this book. Initially, an essential question is posed what are these people like? The answer consists of a discussion about who, where and when are indians. The meaning of urban residence and the nature of indian ethnicity are then considered. Following this, new world prehistory is briefly examined to demonstrate that the essential outlines of Native American existence developed largely within the confines of the Western Hemisphere. The roots of the the Native American present most certainly lie buried deep within an american past, this development of modern aboriginal life is briefly outlined, and the possibility of transoceanic contact influencing that development is discussed. A brief comment is made on native language and finally the nature and implications of one central, theoretical concept, the culture area, are presented. The nature of the Native American life is considered by describing, with the then and now format. The dimensions of existence of 13 individual groups of people ranging from the Eskimo of the Arctic to the Papago and Eastern Cherokee peoples in the South. Finally, both the general and specific are pulled together.