When the American colonies defeated Britain during the War for Independence, Native American leaders began to establish diplomatic relations with the new nation.
Here, for the first time, is the little-known history of American Indians and American presidents, what they said and felt about one another, and what their words tell us about the history of the United States. Focused on major turning points in Native American history, these pages show how American Indians interpreted the power and prestige of the presidency, and advanced their own agenda for tribal sovereignty, from the age of George Washington to the present day. 
In addition to exploring a pantheon of Indian leaders, from Little Turtle to Robert Yellowtail, this book also provides new—and often unexpected—perspectives on the presidents. Thomas Jefferson, traditionally portrayed as the Indians' friend, emerges as a master of the art of Indian dispossession. Richard Nixon, long-tarnished by the Watergate scandal, was in reality a champion of tribal self-determination—a position that sprang, in part, from his Quaker origins.
Using inaugural addresses, proclamations, Indian Agency records, private correspondence, memoirs, petitions, photographs, and objects from the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, American Indians/American Presidents illuminates the relationship between these diverse leaders, the Native Americans' commitment to tribal self-determination, and the social, geographic, and political evolution of the United States over more than two centuries.

American Indians/American Presidents: A History

History

Trafzer, Clifford E.

National Museum of the American Indian (

Americas

Smithsonian

Although coverage chronologically spans from prehistory to the present, the emphasis is on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is written in a readable, flowing manner and is deeply rooted in native traditions and lore. The title is a reference to a message sent by President Andrew Jackson to the Choctaws and Chickasaws indicating that, as a friend, he planned to move the people to the Trans-Mississippi West to "land of their own, which they shall possess as long as grass grows or water runs."

As Long as the Grass Shall Grow and Rivers Flow: A History of Native Americans

Cengage Learning'

The Chemehuevi of the Twenty-Nine Palms tribe of Southern California stands as a testament to the power of perseverance. This small, nomadic band of Southern Paiute Indians has been repeatedly marginalized by European settlers, other Native groups, and, until now, historical narratives that have all too often overlooked them. Having survived much of the past two centuries without rights to their homeland or any self-governing abilities, the Chemehuevi were a mostly "forgotten" people until the creation of the Twenty-Nine Palms Reservation in 1974. Since then, they have formed a tribal government that addresses many of the same challenges faced by other tribes, including preserving cultural identity and managing a thriving gaming industry. A dedicated historian who worked closely with the Chemehuevi for more than a decade, Clifford Trafzer shows how this once-splintered tribe persevered using sacred songs and other cultural practices to maintain tribal identity during the long period when it lacked both a homeland and autonomy. The Chemehuevi believe that their history and their ancestors are always present, and Trafzer honors that belief through his emphasis on individual and family stories. In doing so, he not only sheds light on an overlooked tribe but also presents an important new model for tribal history scholarship. A Chemehuevi Song strikes the difficult balance of placing a community-driven research agenda within the latest currents of indigenous studies scholarship. Chemehuevi voices, both past and present, are used to narrate the story of the tribe's tireless efforts to gain recognition and autonomy. The end result is a song of resilience.

A Chemehuevi Song: The Resilience of a Southern Paiute Tribe (Indigenous Confluences)

University of Washington Press

Earth Song, Sky Spirit

A collection of thirty short stories of native American life features the writing of N. Scott Momaday, James Welch, Louise Erdrich, Michael Dorris, Leslie Marmon Silko, Paula Gunn Allen, and twenty-four other voices.

Literature & Fiction

United States

DOUBLEDAY

A vibrant, vital anthology of stories that portray the lives of Native Americans today, featuring the work of N. Scott Momaday, Louise Erdrich, Leslie Marmon Silko, and more than two dozen other gifted, authentic voices.

Anchor

In recent decades, Native American literature has experienced a resurgence in prominence and popularity. Beginning with the 1969 publication of N. Scott Momaday's Pulitzer Prize–winning novel House Made of Dawn, and continuing with the work of Paula Gunn Allen, Linda Hogan, Louise Erdrich, and Craig Lesley, American Indian writers have become an increasingly visible part of the literary landscape. In this collection of thirty varied and powerful short stories, almost all being published here for the first time, emerging talents carry on the tradition of their storytelling ancestors.

Blue Dawn, Red Earth: New Native American Storytellers

Children's Books

The Nez Perce (Indians of North America)

Examines the history, culture, and changing fortunes of the Nez Perce tribe, and includes a picture essay on their crafts

Chelsea House Pub

This gorgeous volume draws from the vast archives of the National Museum of the American Indian and the voices of some of the most prominent Native American scholars, writers, activists and tribal leaders. More than 300 full-color illustrations depict the artistry and culture of our hemisphere’s diverse indigenous peoples. With its insightful, firsthand prose, the book is a reminder that the ancient philosophies and folkways are just as valuable and relevant in today’s world as they were generations ago. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Native Universe: Voices of Indian America

Arts & Photography

Collections, Catalogs & Exhibitions

National Geographic

The Judge: The Life of Robert A. Hefner (Oklahoma Trackmaker Series)

Biographies & Memoirs

Regional U.S.

University of Oklahoma Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Trafzer, Clifford E.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Trafzer, Clifford E.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Trafzer, Clifford E.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

American Indians/American Presidents: A History

As Long as the Grass Shall Grow and Rivers Flow: A History of Native Americans

A Chemehuevi Song: The Resilience of a Southern Paiute Tribe (Indigenous Confluences)

A Chemehuevi Song: The Resilience of a Southern Paiute Tribe (Indigenous Confluences)

Earth Song, Sky Spirit

Earth Song, Sky Spirit

Blue Dawn, Red Earth: New Native American Storytellers

The Nez Perce (Indians of North America)

Native Universe: Voices of Indian America

The Judge: The Life of Robert A. Hefner (Oklahoma Trackmaker Series)