Firsting and lasting

Jean M. O'Brien's 'Firsting and Lasting' investigates how historical narratives in New England have systematically misrepresented the presence of Native Americans. The book analyzes the concept of 'firsting' and 'lasting,' where Indigenous peoples were either depicted as original inhabitants who disappeared or as the final remnants of a dying race. This work uncovers the enduring impact of these historical erasures on understanding Native American history and identity in the region.