We’ve Been Here The Whole Time!
A Not So Sacred Guide To All Things Native America
By Joey Clift | Illustrations by Julie Fiveash | Forward by Shane Hawk
“We’ve Been Here the Whole Time! is a refreshing, satirical take on Native history that doesn’t shy away from the absurdities and contradictions, offering a laugh-out-loud perspective that’s as enlightening as it is entertaining.”
— Dr. Anton Treuer (Ojibwe)
Author of Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask and Where Wolves Don’t Die
Foreword by Shane Hawk, writer and co-editor of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology!
Put away the construction paper - This contraband book is here to teach you everything your high school refused to teach about Native American history, people, and culture. From misunderstood figures like Pocahontas, to sports mascots, to the Land Back movement, to how cool Lily Gladstone is, this hilarious NDN-approved guide is the first of its kind, illustrated in an irreverent, textbook-meets-notebook style by Diné artist Julie Fiveash. Share with your loved ones and transform your boring Thanksgiving into a big “You’re Welcome” dance party!
Joey Clift (Cowlitz Indian Tribe) walks you through a wide range of information that will answer provocative questions and debunk Americans' wildest assumptions, like:
“Native American” or “American Indian”: What the heck do we call you?
Is it appropriate to do a Land Acknowledgement over Zoom?
Why saying “I’m 1/16th Cherokee” is like saying you’re “1/16th Californian”
Columbus Day is a holiday for a guy who was bad at pretty much everything
Are Native American people extinct? No! Stop asking!
This giftable, conversation-starting book is perfect for history buffs, teachers, and comedy lovers of Smartypants on Dropout, The Daily Show, The Onion, and Reservation Dogs. Funny, fearless, and deeply informative, Joey Clift’s debut reminds readers that Native people aren’t just part of history—they’ve been here the whole time.
Peabody and Emmy-nominated Native comedian Joey Clift takes you on a journey to discover the largest population you don’t know in his hilarious debut, for fans of Michael Harriot, Mo Rocca, and Phoebe Robinson.
Kind Words from Readers
“Sharply written, frequently hilarious, and educational as hell!”
— Aaron Reynolds
New York Times bestselling author of Effin’ Birds
“A throwback to the funny history books I cherished so dearly growing up in the ’90s, like Horrible Histories meets the modern bite of The Onion. A hilarious, accessible gateway to incredible facts and history most of us missed in school.”
— Chelsea Rebecca
Producer & host of the Dead Meat Podcast
"Clift's wry and amusing new book manages to delight and enlighten at the same time. Dispelling stereotypes and extinguishing myths, We’ve Been Here the Whole Time might very well turn an ignoramus into an intellectual."
— Kliph Nesteroff
Author of The Comedians and We Had a Little Real Estate Problem
“I’ve worked with Joey for a number of years, and this book is a perfect combination of his humor and history. Give it a go!”
— Charlie Berens
Comedian, New York Times bestselling author of The Midwest Survival Guide
Joey Clift is not just one of the funniest writers in Indian Country—he really knows his stuff. This book is a win for Natives everywhere. If it had been around back in the day, I wouldn’t have answered so many stupid questions in school . . . from my teachers.”
— Azie Dungey (Pamunkey)
TV writer of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Rutherford Falls
“When I teach Indigenous history, I always search for creative materials that allow me to teach the history and contemporary reality of Indigenous peoples in the United States. And while there is a plethora of materials, hardly any of them bring a fresh, comedic approach to so serious a topic. In this book, Cowlitz author Joey Clift does that.
Using humor and what I would describe as NDN wit, Clift allows us to see three-dimensional perspectives of Indigenous history, culture, and people, as well as critiques of settler colonialism in the funniest way possible. You will learn about everything from the athletic prowess of Jim Thorpe to critiques of land acknowledgements and colonial uses of Spirit Animals and who ain’t invited to the powwow.
This book is perfect to gift to your disgruntled relative, your Indigenous auntie, your teacher who claims they don’t know enough about Indigenous history and culture to teach it. If you’re an educator, this book will soon be an essential part of your teaching materials—and you will laugh. Out. Loud. Clift has written a book that represents some of the best work in Indian Country. A must-read!”
— Dr. Kyle T. Mays (Black & Saginaw Chippewa)
Author of An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States
Want to interview Joey for your book club, or have him speak at your college, organization, Indigenous ERG group, or favorite bookstore?
