Includes bibliographical references and index.

"The story of the extraordinary gains by Indian tribes over the second half of the twentieth century."--Provided by publisher. "Blood Struggle is an American classic. It profoundly informs our understanding of the history and contemporary existence of Indian tribes and the effects of federal policy on Indian people, their governments, cultures, and families. This book is essential reading for public officials and anyone else who wants to understand the history and nature of relationships between the United States and Indian tribes. The story revealed by Blood Struggle is a testament to the enduring vitality of the tribes and our democratic faith."--Senator John McCain, from back book jacket. "This remarkable and very educational book captures the tenacity and resiliance of some of the contemporary leaders of the movement to revitalize tribal governments. It contains many wonderful stories about the faith, hope, and optimism of tribal people who continue to rely on traditional tribal culture as they move confidently in the twenty-first century."--Wilma Mankiller, former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. From back book jacket. There are some three million Native Americans in the United States today. Indian nations hold reservations totalling 60,000,000 acres country-wide, an area larger than New York and Pennsylvania combined. These tribes are soverign nations, controlling their own schools, colleges, courts, police, banks, supermarkets, and more-- and in their story lies a modern miracle. This "amazingly complete accounting of the modern Indian movement" (Vine Deloria, Jr.) was written by Charles Wilkinson, Distiniguished University Professor and Moses Lasky Professor of Law at the University of Colorado. At the time of the publication of Blood Struggle, the late Charles Wilkinson was the author of twelve books. A former attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, Wilkinson traveled to more than one hundred Indian reservations, and was often praised by tribal leaders including Peterson Zah, former president of the Navajo Nation.