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Online Reference
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Reference encyclopedia of the American Indian - 2025The Reference Encyclopedia is the main source of information on present-day American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Canadian First Nations. It lists and describes the activities and personnel of thousands of American Indian organizations, institutions and associations; Bureau of Indian Affairs government agencies; 574 federally recognized and about 150 state recognized tribal nations and communities; Bureau of Indian Education schools; colleges and universities with American Indian studies departments; Indian Health Service hospitals and clinics; museums and special libraries; law firms with Indian law sections including attorneys specializing in Indian law; professional services available for American Indian tribes and organizations; Indian-owned and operated casinos. Includes key personnel, contact information, website and E-mail addresses, and phone and fax numbers. Also, a bibliography-subject index of more than 12,500 books; and a 440-page biographical section containing short biographies of approximately 3,000 American Indians and non-Indians active in Indian affairs, law, medicine, health, and education. There’s a Canadian section providing information on First Nations, organizations, museums, libraries, colleges, etc.
Searching Tips
Over the years different terms have been used to represent people Indigenous to a specific area, when searching try using different keywords in your search. Please see the Indigenous Terminology tab for more in-depth resources.
Commonly used in American Based Content:
- Native American, American Indian, Indigenous
- Alaskan Native
- Pacific Islanders, Hawaii Natives
Commonly used in Canadian Based Content:
- Native, First Nations, Aboriginal, First Peoples
- Inuit
- Metis
Library Databases
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American Indian History OnlineThis database provides access to more than 5,000 years of culture, history, and leaders. 320+ Native American groups are presented through subject entries, biographies, primary source documents, maps and charts, and photographs. Updated semiannually.
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Indigenous Histories and Cultures in North AmericaThe wide range of material included in American Indian Histories and Cultures presents a unique insight into interactions between American Indians and Europeans from their earliest contact, continuing through the turbulence of the American Civil War, the on-going repercussions of government legislation, right up to the civil rights movement of the mid- to late-twentieth century. Sourced from the Newberry Library's Edward E. Ayer Collection, one of the strongest archival collections on American Indian history in the world.
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American Indian Movement and Native American RadicalismA digital archive of FBI files that illustrate the evolution of AIM as an organization of social protest and the development of Native American radicalism. Sourced from the FBI Library, this collection includes 14,195 pages. Documents range in date from 1968 to 1979
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American WestDraws from the Newberry Library's Graff Collection. Can be cross-searched with American Indian Histories and Culture.
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Bibliography of Indigenous Peoples in North AmericaBibliography of Native North Americans (BNNA ) provides citations to books, essays, journal articles and government documents of the United States and Canada. BNNA covers all aspects of native North American culture, history and life.
This is the only database available that specifically indexes secondary literature across disciplines dealing with native North American life and culture. -
Ethnic NewsWatchA full text database of 200 publications of the ethnic, minority and native press. Searchable in both English and Spanish, with titles in both languages. Includes more than 100,000 articles in Spanish and over 400,000 in English
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Indigenous Peoples of North AmericaArchive of manuscripts, monographs, newspapers, periodicals and photographs on native North Americans.
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North American Indian Thought and CultureThis database represents the largest compilation ever created of biographical information on indigenous peoples from all areas of North America.
North American Indian Thought and Culture contains around 120,000 pages of text and images, including biographies, auto-biographies, personal narratives, speeches, diaries, letters, and oral histories. Particular care has been taken to index this material so that it can be searched thoroughly. Full-length reference works also are included to give background and context to the narratives.
Related Guides
Acknowledgement
I would like to acknowledge that the University of Michigan resides on the traditional Territories of the Three Fire Peoples - the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodewadmi. As we work, live, and play on these territories we must keep in mind the ongoing effects of colonization, communities' struggle for self-determination, colonial state violence, and the recognition of Indigenous sovereignty.
Last Updated: Nov 10, 2025 10:45 AM