First Americans provides a history of Native Americans, from their earliest appearance in North America to the present, that covers the complexity and diversity of their past. The text demonstrates Native Americans’ participation in determining their own future and helps students place Native American history in context with national and international developments.

Present throughout the text is the "native voice," giving American Indians’ perspectives on historical developments. The text also enforces the reality that native people retain a presence in the U.S. today as a growing population with a rich diversity of roles, ideas, and contributions.