Reviewed by: Indians of the Midwest Alyssa L. Reil Indians of the Midwest, Newberry Library (Chicago), digital exhibition, publications.newberry.org/indiansofthemidwest. The driving concept behind the Newberry Library’s digital history site, Indians of the Midwest, is to provide the public with background information relevant to contemporary Native American issues. The website focuses on eight key subject areas: “People, Places and Time”; “The Homeland and Its Use”; “The Marketplace”; “Treaties”; “Identities”; “Property”; “Indian Imagery”; and “Are Midwest Indians Typical?” Within each of these subject areas is a historical overview, descriptions of current concerns and how Native history impacts those concerns, and explanations of the evidence provided. Project development occurred over several years and required the expertise of many individuals and groups. Dr. Brian Hosmer and Dr. Loretta Fowler, then of the D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies at the Newberry Library, formulated the idea in 2005. Brian Mornar, Scott Stevens, Xeno Media, and Mike Media Group assisted Dr. Fowler in the creation of the website. The project also relied on a network of Native and non-Native scholars, as well as a large advisory committee. Funding came from the National Endowment for the Humanities Public Programs division. Dr. Fowler created the site content utilizing the extensive Newberry Library collections. Her writing style is clear and concise, which allows the research to be accessible to a broad audience. The text itself raises important questions for the reader to reflect on, such as “What happened during the treaty negotiations?” and “What do Native people in the Midwest think about the moundbuilder sites?” Dr. Fowler provides nuanced answers that encompass the Native point of view and challenge widely accepted romantic versions of history. In this way, the exhibit refutes two popular and simplistic narratives: that of the benevolence of American settlers and that of [End Page 169] Native Americans as willing participants in land treaties. Whenever possible, Fowler provides direct quotes from historic Indian leaders from the Midwest or includes recent interviews with experts that provide contemporary perspective. A prominent example of this can be found near the end of the “Indian Imagery” subject area. Dr. Dave Edmunds speaks on the matter of romantic interpretations in a video that demonstrates the effects of American interests on the memory of the Indian leader, Tecumseh. Over time, the image of Tecumseh changed to reflect European cultural norms, such as the omission of his nose ring and the lightening of his complexion. Beyond his image, reports of his character shifted to accommodate popular values, going so far as to memorialize Tecumseh as an “American folk hero.” Dr. Edmunds’ discussion provides an accurate portrait of Tecumseh and refutes popular false depictions of the historic figure. Indians of the Midwest utilizes several different digital tools to increase reader comprehension. Interactive timelines provide brief scrolling histories by subject with complimentary illustrations and photographs. One particularly notable timeline is found under “The Marketplace” subpage, “Commercial Activity.” The timeline, entitled “Explore the History of Commercial Activity,” allows users to learn about various forms of economic participation by Native Americans. Artistic renderings and photographs accompany text blocks on the many stages of commerce, spanning from trade with Europeans to contemporary efforts seeking self-determination. An interactive map of the thirty-four federally recognized tribes in the Midwest allows the reader to visualize the locations of tribes, learn about their different cultures, and access direct links to official tribe websites. Videos with transcripts and both modern and historic photos add dimension. Quizzes allow readers to test their comprehension of the material and provide instructors with a tool to evaluate students’ understanding. For example, an instructor may utilize the subpage, “Legal Identity,” to help students understand the complicated nature of federal and tribal recognition, and then direct the students to the related quiz at the bottom of the page. Beyond these tools, the site also offers complete navigation instructions for novice users or those that have difficulty accessing content. The most exceptional aspect of this site is its emphasis on research. Not only does Indians of the Midwest present the public with a navigable history, it also provides users with directions for further research. Subject areas end with a...