An exploration of the notion of "Indian". It argues that such a category, initially externally constructed and imposed, has over the last 500 years been taken on by indigenous peoples and, through a creative and proactive reconstruction, has been utilized as part of ongoing resistance to colonization. The book contains a comprehensive review of the anthropological literature regarding theories of culture change; a survey of the literature regarding ethnicity; and a summary of the history of colonization in North America, Federal-Indian relations and the popularization of "Indian". To substantiate the theory, it also contains the postulation of a new theory of culture change with five detailed case studies: League of the Iroquois, c 1500s; Pueblo Revolts, c 1600s; Shawnee Confederacy, c 1700s; ghost dances and Peyote religion, c 1800s; and pan-indigenous political organizations, c 1900s.
- ISBN10 9004096868
- ISBN13 9789004096868
- Publish Date 31 January 1994
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 15 July 2009
- Publish Country NL
- Imprint Brill
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 200
- Language English