This will be a good one.
INDIANS AND EMIGRANTS TOPIC AT NEIHARDT SITE
On Sunday, October 18th at 2:00 pm, Nebraska author and educator Michael Tate will discuss the relationships between emigrants and Indians along the overland trails between 1840 and 1865, the period of greatest movement west to California and Oregon across the Great Plains. Unlike in the Hollywood versions, this period was more cooperation than conflict, mainly because the emigrants were anxious to get further west and relied on the Native peoples along the route for much needed fresh meat and produce, help in time of sickness and accident, and their knowledge of the geography and climate. Increased conflict would come toward the end of this period as the greater influx of emigrants depleted the game and pasturage, disrupting the balance until the next period, 1865-1890, would be called the era of the Indian Wars.
Using images and commentary from research for his book “Indians and Emigrants: Encounters on the Overland Trails,” Tate will explain the progression of this change from cooperation to conflict.
Tate is the professor of History and Native American Studies and the Martin Chair of Western History at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is also the author of “The Frontier Army in the Settlement of the West,” “The American Army in Transition,” and a study on the Omaha Tribe entitled “The Upstream People,” as well as several scholarly articles. The current book received the 2006 Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize.
The presentation begins at 2:00 PM and is free and open to the public. A reception will follow and the author’s books can be purchased for signing. The John G. Neihardt State Historic site is located at 306 W. Elm Street in Bancroft, NE. For more information call 1-888-777-4667 or 402/648-3388 or e-mail at neihardt@gpcom.net.
