500 Nations (DVD)

I learned a great deal from this video. In one condensed hour, the film discussed the life of many Northeast "Indian" nations encountered in the years before and during the American Revolutionary War. The film is clear and easy to understand, yet explains the changing political and economic terrain of Indian nations as they confronted the arrival of "Whites."With clear maps, plain-spoken narration, and lovely illustrations, the film evokes a time when Indians chose military alliances with French, British, and American forces--a time when Indians had to come to grips with the power of several European forces encroaching on their lands. We learn of changes in the Indian political-economy (as trading with Whites took precedence over normal activities), the slaughter of wildlife for gain in trade, and the vicious enslavement of Indians by Europeans.The film is sympathetic to Indians, without being nostalgic or naive. Indians are not victims or monolithic in the film. They are political actors trying to survive. At times they are at war with one another, at times they effectively resist European power, and at times they are brutally slain and attacked with a cruelty mastered by Europeans. For example, the film discusses biological warfare (blankets w/ smallpox were given to many tribes), and George Washington's all-out assault on Indian villages and crops. (See Max Mintz's _Seeds of Empire_ for a rich account of Washington's brutal campaigns.)Many more topics are briefly addressed: Pontiac's Rebellion, the US Revolutionary War, and the political amalgamation of Indian nations (who formed confederacies). And, in a refreshing change, White-Americans are given their voice in 18th century quotes, rather than 20th century ones. In other words, they are not politically corrected--Whites are given their full racist voice and hatred of Indians.As a college instructor, I am buying this film (and perhaps others in the 500 Nations series) to show my students. I'm sure that they will benefit from this honest, complex, and rich look at early encounters between Europeans and Native Americans. Hopefully they will learn as much as I did.

Always wanted to have my own copy of this great series. Viewing it again is fascinating, challenging and emotional. The set is inclusive of a cd with archival and source based information. The plight of the last plains Indians who struggled to retain their rightful heritage - their tribal land - reminds us that money, profits and greed are powerful agents in the destruction of histories and societies. The Indian nations fought and fell as victims of a massive theft of their identity, culture and the places they owned by right of birth and centuries of habitation. The series covers first contact for many American Indian nations and examines their various tribal cultures and built environments. What dignified and poetic statements many tribal leaders made as their dwindling numbers forced them to bargain for the rights of their people. The "civilizing" white soldiers, settlers and governments embarked on a process of extermination by massacre, lies and re-location and disease; sure makes you wonder who the "savages" were. Well worth watching.,

wonderfully done and very interesting....a true epic tale. if you enjoy this topic, i think you will easily watch these multiple times, which is the only time i buy any dvd anyhow....repeatability. kevin costner does a brief intro only, but there are so many well-known celebrity voices that add a richness and authenticity to the listening. the images are riveting and i don't know how anyone could not feel a little ashamed by the atrocities committed on the first nations people after viewing this, nor start to appreciate the culture of these people and find a way to incorporate their unique spiritualism into your life in some small way.

the information brought forth in this documentary was both enlightening and sad at the same time. To realize that if it wasn't for the First Nations, the Pilgrims never would have survived that first winter at Jamestown. So many "treaties" between the Native Americans and the "wasitchu" (whites) were broken almost as soon as they were signed; it is mind-boggling to think how different this Nation would be if the English had held up their end of the bargain (or bargains). We need to come to a less prejudicial state when, after watching this documentary, what the Native Peoples have been through and what their still dealing with even today. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR ANCIENT NATIVE ANCESTORS; SCHOOL TEACHERS WILL GET A MUCH DIFFERENT POINT-OF-VIEW AFTER WATCHING THIS.

500 Nations is a wonderful documentary about our native people here in the US of A. It's Native American history told in the truest sense---not cowboys and Indians as written by those who had no idea. Being Native myself I'm lending this set of cd's to my son and asking him to have my granddaughters sit and watch this--then it's off to my youngest grandson. I want my grandchildren to know the "real" history of the Native people in America.

This is not only a great series about the plight of the Native American Nations who lived in North America for tens of thousands of years, but American history that is not taught. The Iroquois Confederation had a system of government on which the US Constitution is based. The Indian nations fought alongside of the colonists against the British. The Lenape tribe [Delaware Indians] fielded a regiment in the Continental Army. Their chief was one of Washington's colonels. You will change your view about Columbus. After the Nations helped to create the USA, the new American government stole their lands and moved them from the east coast to Oklahoma by force. The US government killed every Indian that they found either by shooting them or by introducing deadly diseases.