Essential Readings in Indigenous and American Indian Studies (Draft)

Indigenous and American Indian Studies is a field that explores and analyzes Tribal Nationhood: sovereignty, self-determination, Tribal Nation rebuilding, and respectful coexistence. It seeks to promote and foster the understanding and practice of each of these four elements. While not a legal or history or a literary or anthropology field, Indigenous and American Indian studies can utilize these subjects–and others–to further understanding of the development and growth of a contemporary and robust, thriving Tribal nationhood.

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The work-in-progress list below, while not exhaustive and only an introduction to this field, seeks to broaden the conversation and awareness of Tribal Nationhood (AKA Indigenous and American Indian studies). This list arises from my teaching of this subject at both Tribal and Historical White colleges, as well as from my work to support Tribal Nationhood. The list is organized thematically, although clearly many of the titles can be categorized under several topics. Please note that colonization and decolonization, an important theory to this field, are topics addressed in most of the readings below.

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Starting Points (read these first)

• Vine Deloria, Jr. Custer Died for Your Sins (1969)
• Rupert Costo, Indian Voices: The First Convocation of American Indian Scholars (1970; out of print – check AbeBooks or Powell‘s or other sites)
• Hank Adams, “20 Points” (1972)
• Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, Old Indians, New Wars (2007)
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007)
• Taiaiake, Peace, Power, Righteousness (1999/2008)

 

Readings on the US’s Indian Wars and Militarization

• Winona LaDuke, The Militarization of Indian Country (2012)

 

Readings on the US’s Anti-Indian Popular Culture

• Forthcoming

 

Readings on Oklahoma

• Angie Debo, And Still the Waters Run: The Betrayal of the Five Civilized Tribes (1940)

 

Readings on Critical Indigenous Legal Theory and US’s Anti-Indian Policies

• Walter Echo Hawk, In the Courts of the Conqueror: The 10 Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided (2012)
• Turtle Talk: Indigenous and Law Policy Center

 

Treaties

• Suzan Shown Harjo, ed. Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations (2014)
• Francis Prucha, American Indian Treaties – read for reference
• Kappler’s Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties website

 

Sovereignty and Self-Determination

• Dann Sisters
• Edward Valendra, Not Without Our Consent: Lakota Resistance to Termination, 1950 – 1959 (2006)
• José Barreiro, Thinking in Indian: A John Mohawk Reader (2010)
• David Wilkins, ed. The Hank Adams Reader: An Exemplary Native Activist and the Unleashing of Indigenous Sovereignty (2011)
• Deloria’s “Toward an IAIS Mission and Scope” (1 page handout)

 

Tribal Nation ReBuilding

• Paul Chaat Smith and Robert Warrior, Like a Hurricane: The Indian Movement from Alcatraz to Wounded Knee (2007)
• Dan Wildcat, Red Alert! Saving the Planet with Indigenous Knowledge (2009)
• Venida Chenault, Weaving Strength, Weaving Power: Violence and Abuse Against Indigenous Women (2011)

 

Auto/biographies and General & Tribal Histories

• Wilma Mankiller, A Chief and Her People (1999)
• Jennifer Denetdale, Reclaiming Diné History: The Legacies of Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita (2007)
• James Riding In and Susan Miller, Native Historians Write Back: Decolonizing American Indian History (2011)
• Trova Heffernan, Where the Salmon Run: The Life and Legacy of Billy Frank, Jr. (2013)
• Paul R. McKenzie-Jones, Clyde Warrior: Tradition, Community, and Red Power (2015)

 

Tribal College Movement

• Forthcoming

 

Contemporary Issues

• José Barreiro, America is Indian Country: The Best of Indian Country Today (2005)
• Indigenous Policy Journal
• Wicazo sa Review

 

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