Indians, Missionaries, and Merchants: The Legacy of Colonial Encounters on the California Frontiers is an important book
that urges that anthropological, archaeological, and historical researchers undertake further study into the interplay and ramifications of this interplay between California First Nations and early colonial influences by the Franciscan missionaries and the Russian merchants. The author states that currently many native groups are not officially
recognized as such by the United States government and thus do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as other federally recognized native
communities. The reasons why these groups are not federally recognized are a very complex interweave of history, politics, and religion primarily steaming from the interactions or lack of interactions between these native communities, the Franciscan missionaries and the Russian merchants. As research in these areas is incomplete and at best spotty, the author calls for “long term diachronic perspective on the rise and fall of colonial frontiers to understand the status of native communities today to know why some are recognized and others are not”. Indians, Missionaries, and Merchants is a well written piece of research. The author outlines past research on the subject while also adding his own historical and archaeological research into the mix. Though written as the findings of a research project, this book, though perhaps somewhat challenging at times, would be an enlightening read for anyone wanting to further understand colonial California or those wondering about why some native communities are federally recognized and others are not. The author writes about an important part of the American past that is little explored and little known in the public eye. In this way, this book serves as both a beacon and a resource to learn about these important aspects of the American past.