Competing Voices from Native America

Abstract

A unique, carefully-chosen selection of short, stimulating primary-source accounts describes controversial moments in Native American history since 1492, sharing both Native and non-Native viewpoints. Not restricted to writings about military conflict, this anthology presents student researchers with the words of both Natives and non-Natives on a wide range of conflicts and bitterly contested issues involving Native American experiences and rights. Deploying an extensive array of sources, including newspaper reports, congressional documents, government documents, and Indian tribal sources, Competing Voices from Native America: Fighting Words is divided into chapters, each of which highlights a conflict or controversy and presents the opposing views of Native Americans and non-Native Americans. Key issues explored include spirituality and human relationship to nature and land. Events presented range from "Discovery," through the period of conflict beginning in 1676 and extending to the beginning of the 19th century, to Indian Removal, the termination of the federal trusteeship relationship of the U.S. government and Indian peoples, and major recent developments.