Structure

Treuer’s history of Native America has seven parts, each covering a historical period. The first is necessarily an overview because it covers the longest period, from early archeological evidence, beginning 19,000 years ago, to confrontations with European colonists and the U.S. before 1890. The pivotal year 1890 is when the U.S. Army massacred 150 Lakota men, women, and children at Wounded Knee Creek, an event that is seen by historians as a decisive conclusion to Native resistance to the colonial invasion. Treuer disputes that conclusion. Throughout the remaining six parts, covering American history from 1890 to the present, he demonstrates that Native peoples never stopped resisting, adapting, and living. In a succinct expression of the twin themes of indigeneity and adaptability (see Themes above), Treuer says, “[W]e have always been here. And we’ve always been changing and adapting to climates and policy and peoples” (417).

The book is...