American Indian Tribal Governments

By Sharon O'Brien

Book Overview

An illustrated introduction to traditional and contemporary Indian tribal government, its evolution and its current legal powers. O'Brien (government and international studies, U. of Notre Dame) examines the structure and legal rights of modern tribal governments, and their relationship to federal a

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806121998
• ISBN13: 9780806121994
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 349 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

facts, facts, and more facts

Sharon O'brian replaced the juicy radical language of most books written on American Indian-US government relations such as Custer Died For Your Sins with the text of acts of congress, Supreme Court decisions, and presidential administration policies. Included also is a chapter on European land claims and conflicts that arose between them and the Indians and amongst themselves. It is none of it controversial, all of it educational. It's an excellent guide for anyone claiming to be a U.S. historian.

Great Focus; exceptional primer

There is much to say in favor of this book. Its main focus is the operation of tribal governments. Because there is so much variety, the author looks at five representative governments in some detail--the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois League), the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Teton Sioux, the Pueblos, and the Yakimas (who since the publication of this book have revised the official spelling, using the name that appears in the treaty of 1855, Yakama). O'Brien wrote this book with the cooperation and assistance of those she was writing about.In addition to this focus, the book has the best brief overview of Federal Indian policy I've seen anywhere (about 70 pages). Unlike most books on the subject, the book is amply illustrated with photographs and other images, as well as maps, graphs, and abundant sidebars.I always use one or more texts on Federal Indian law and policy in my American Indian history courses. Students often call these books dry. When I have used O'Brien's book, students have praised the book and said they enjoy reading it.