The book's unique structure allows coverage of a great breadth of information while avoiding the common mistake of generalizing about all tribes and cultures. An introductory section presents the basic themes of the book and describes the traditional governments of five tribes chosen for their geographic and cultural diversity-the Senecas, the Muscogees, the Lakotas, the Isleta Pueblo, and the Yakimas. The next three chapters review the history of Indian-white relations from the time Christopher Columbus ""discovered"" America to the present. Then the history and modem government of each of the five tribes presented earlier is examined in detail. The final chapters analyze the evolution and current legal powers of tribal governments, the tribal-federal relationship, and the tribal-state relationship.

American Indian Tribal Governments illuminates issues of tribal sovereigntyand shows how tribes are protectingand expanding their control of tribalmembership, legal systems, child welfare,land and resource use, huntingand fishing, business regulation, education,and social services. Other examplesshow tribes negotiating withstate and federal governments to alleviatesources of conflict, including issuesof criminal and civil jurisdiction, taxation,hunting and fishing rights, andcontrol of natural resources.Excerpts from historical and modemdocuments and speeches highlightthe text, and more than one hundredphotos, maps, and charts show triballife, government, and interaction withwhite society as it was and is. Includedas well are a glossary and a chronologyof important events.