Part 8 Summary and Analysis

"The Problem of Indian Leadership"

In the first part of this chapter, the author comments that there have been times when Indian leaders (christened "Chiefs" by the white men who wanted to deal with the same sort of patriarchal hierarchy they were accustomed to) were respected by whites for their spirit, determination, and independence. He also describes how some Indian leaders conformed to white stereotypes/expectations of how Indians should behave in order to achieve that respect and a degree of success in white society (for an example of those stereotypes/expectations see "Important People - Tonto"). However, the author points out that traditionally, tribal politics and/or government didn't follow the white, one-individual one-authority model, but instead governed by a form of consensus that at times aligned with respect for the leadership capabilities of an individual.

The author also describes...