In a single source, this comprehensive two-volume work provides the entire history of American Indians, as told by Indians themselves.

More than 600 extensively cross-referenced entries detail: Wars and battles Treaties Tribes Individuals and places Weaponry Important concepts. With maps and illustrations.

This comprehensive alphabetic reference of over 1,200 entries reveals the rich spiritual legacy of the native American nations, covering sacred sites, burial practices, spiritual leaders, traditional ceremonies, concepts of the afterlife, symbolism, dances and objects.

In his final work, the Native American scholar Vine Deloria Jr. takes us into the realm of the spiritual and reveals through eyewitness accounts the immense power of medicine men. The World We Used to Live In, a collection of anecdotes from tribes across the country, explores everything from healing miracles and sacred rituals to Navajos who could move the sun. In this work, which draws upon a lifetime of scholarship, Deloria shows us how ancient powers fit into our modern understanding of science and the cosmos, and how future generations may draw strength from the old ways

"Federal Indian law . . . is a loosely related collection of past and present acts of Congress, treaties and agreements, executive orders, administrative rulings, and judicial opinions, connected only by the fact that law in some form has been applied haphazardly to American Indians over the course of several centuries. . . . Indians in their tribal relation and Indian tribes in their relation to the federal government hang suspended in a legal wonderland." In this book, two prominent scholars of American Indian law and politics undertake a full historical examination of the relationship between Indians and the United States Constitution that explains the present state of confusion and inconsistent application in U.S. Indian law. The authors examine all sections of the Constitution that explicitly and implicitly apply to Indians and discuss how they have been interpreted and applied from the early republic up to the present. They convincingly argue that the Constitution does not provide any legal rights for American Indians and that the treaty-making process should govern relations between Indian nations and the federal government.

Until now, books about American Indian Policy have dealt with laws and acts long since adopted and in effect. In American Indian Policy in the Twentieth Century, edited by Vine Deloria, Jr., a group of writers deals with present realities and future possibilities, taking the lead in encouraging discussion and further research into areas of concern to American Indians. Against the background of the larger field of Indian affairs, these authors suggest new ways of thinking about specific problems: Joyotpaul Chaudhuri -- "American Indian Policy: An Overview" Sharon O'Brien -- "Federal Indian Policies and the International Protection of Human Rights" Fred L. Ragsdale, Jr. -- "The Deception of Geography" Michael Lacy -- "The United States and American Indians: Political Relations" Daniel McCool -- "Indian Voting" Tom Holm -- "The Crisis in Tribal Government" David L. Vinje -- "Cultural Values and Economic Development on Reservations" Robert A. Nelson and Joseph F. Sheley-- "BIA Influence on Indian Self-Determination" Mary Wallace -- "The Supreme Court and Indian Water Rights" John Petoskey -- "Indians and the First Amendment" Vine Deloria, Jr. -- "The Evolution of Federal Indian Policy Making" The articles treat both historical problems and current issues that must be confronted if Indians are to move forward to stabilize their communities and protect their rights and resources. In part speculative, the book defines many of the factors that bear on the formation of policies at the federal level, and it discusses new institutions and legislation that can assist American Indians, enabling tribal members and other individuals to better understand their present status and draw reasonable conclusions about their future. This book will be of interest in several fields of study. History and law classes, short courses on Indian affairs, tribal governments and training programs, and state agencies that deal with Indians will find it of benefit, as well as the general reader interested in the welfare and future of American Indians.