Thursday, September 21, 2000

By Will Blount, PR Intern

WILMINGTON--Dr. David La Vere, associate professor of history, has recently published Contrary Neighbors, Southern Plains and Removed Indians in Indian Territory. La Vere has taught at UNCW for almost eight years. The book is about the relations of Southeastern Indians, who were removed to Indian territory in the nineteenth century, and Southern Plains Indians, who claimed the area as their own.

The book focuses primarily on the differing worldviews of the two groups. The Southeastern Indians, which include Choctaws, Creeks, Chickasaws, and Seminoles, were farmers. The Southern Plains Indians, Comanches, Kiowas, Wichitas, and Osages, were hunter/gatherers and had a culture centered around the buffalo. The Removed Indians hoped to minimize the Plains Indians' raids by "civilizing" them with councils and trade. However, they were not interested and didn't see the use in farming. La Vere said about his latest book, "I think it's a quick and entertaining read."



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