From the Archives

From the Archives provides a unique opportunity to access classic publications that contain many valuable insights and articles. These publications may not be readily available to the general public, and so we offer them here, as a way to continue the Costos' legacy of educating the public about American Indians.

When the Costos established the American Indian Historical Society in 1964, they also began publication of The Indian Historian “a journal of history, information, and literature about the American Indian in the past and his situation today.” Early issues assumed a newsletter format, but as the years progressed, The Indian Historian became more of a professional journal than a grassroots publication, with articles by prominent, activist Native American scholars such as Ward Churchill, Vine Deloria, Jr., Jack Forbes, Donald Grinde, Jr., Alfonso Ortiz, Joe Sando, Gerald Vizenor, and many others.

The Costos commenced publication of The Weewish Tree in 1971 as a “magazine of Indian American for Young People.” Whether you are a young student interested in learning about American Indians, a teacher or a parent, you will find this section holds many interesting articles for learning more.

In 1973, they started Wassaja, a national newspaper of American Indian life and affairs. The paper's creators saw it as "The Indians' Signal for Self-Determination." Its first issue ran twenty-four pages and included articles on water rights, self-determination, and the importance of knowing history in order to prevail in ongoing struggles. Published in a time of profound Native American civil rights activity, these archives provide a unique window on a important historical period in modern American Indian History.