I've been digging around online for books that will describe day-to-day life, cultural beliefs and practices, hunting, building techniques, political systems, etc...
Most of the books I have found (that are aimed at adults) are focused around historical events during or after the colonial period.
I'd love to learn about any Native cultures, but in particularly interested in northeastern (Iroquois) and other North American societies.
Thanks!
Hi there. Here are a few suggestions that I think might be up your alley. Of course, there are always more, but I feel like these are good starters and the most relevant.
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles Mann is a popular and, for the most part, good book to get an overview of life in pre-Columbian America.
Since you specifically mentioned the Iroquois, definitely check out Basic Call To Consciousness by Akwesasne Notes. This was written by an Iroquois and is about them. Truly insightful into their ways and discusses where a lot of their pre-Columbian concepts came from.
Indians of the Pacific Northwest: From the Coming of the White Man to the Present Day by Vine Deloria, Jr. is also good. Only the first couple of chapters delve into pre-Columbian times, but still interesting.
And Noon Nee-Me-Poo - Volume 1 by Allen P. Slickpoo, Sr.; Deward E. Walker, Jr. is a very special book to me. It is about my people and is written by my people, the Nez Perce. several of the chapters discuss what life was like for us before colonization.
One thing I would like to note is that many of the books that might hold the answers you seek are actually legend books, ones that compile Indigenous stories. While not all are for public eye, some Tribes do produce their own and some authors produce them in cooperation with the Tribe (the only two methods I approve of for obtaining such stories outside of being told them by said Tribe) and these stories contain the way we saw things, often before colonization. They taught moral lessons, lessons on how to act, how to be a member of their respective community. So perhaps look for these kinds of books in your local area.
H there -- our flaired users here may be able to add to the discussion, but I'd point you in the direction of our Books and Resources list as well:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/books/americas
If you look through that for "pre-Columbian" or "aboriginal" (depending on the section), you should find plenty to get you started.