Mathews (history, U. of New Mexico) offers an alternative view to histories that concentrate on the violent and often tragic confrontations between native Americans and Anglo-Americans in the 19th century. Instead, she concentrates on the clashes between the Indian nations and colonizers that began almost 300 years before the United States was born. Topics include the origins, migrations and geographical location of the earlier native Americans, the history of the Spanish in the southwest, the history of the French from the Saint Lawrence and Great Lakes to the Rocky Mountains and Russian involvement from the Aleutian Chain to Northern California. The book also addresses major issues in the study of American Indian history. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)