Studies in North American Indian History

This history of the Crow Indians links their nineteenth-century nomadic life and their modern existence. The Crows not only withstood the dislocation and conquest that was visited upon them after 1805, but acted in the midst of these events to construct a modern Indian community - a nation. Their efforts sustained the pride and strength reflected in Chief Plenty Coups' statement in 1925 that he did 'not care at all what historians have to say about Crow Indians,' as well as their community's faith in the beauty of its traditions and its inventions. Frederick Hoxie demonstrates that contact with outsiders drew the Crows together and tested their ability to adapt their traditions to new conditions. He emphasizes political life, but also describes changes in social relations, religious beliefs and economic activities. His final chapter discusses the significance of the Crow experience for American history in general.