American Indian Nations takes stock of Indian history, policy, and culture over the past 30 years. A distinctive contribution to the understanding and interpretation of current Indian affairs, policies, and community development, this dynamic commentary of contemporary issues brings together a Who's Who of tribal leaders, scholars, and activists. No other collection offers such a thought-provoking and utterly current series of essays on the problems and achievements of modern Native peoples.

American Indian Nations takes stock of Indian history, policy, and culture over the past 30 years. A distinctive contribution to the understanding and interpretation of current Indian affairs, policies, and community development, this dynamic commentary of contemporary issues brings together a Who's Who of tribal leaders, scholars, and activists. No other collection offers such a thought-provoking and utterly current series of essays on the problems and achievements of modern Native peoples.

"Provides real insight into the religion of the nineteenth-century Gros Ventre (Atsina) Indians. Known to themselves as the White Clay People, this little-known tribe now shares the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana with the Assiniboines. However, throughout much of their recorded history they were allied with the Blackfeet. The book is a record of the spiritual life of Bull Lodge (born ca. 1802, died 1886), religions leader, healer, and for a time, keeper of the Feathered Pipe, one of the two tribal objects of the Gros Ventres...[It] makes absorbing reading. Beginning at the age of twelve. Bull Lodge sought spiritual power through the tribal Feathered Pipe. From the ages of seventeen to twenty-three he was favored with a series of seven visions on seven buttes that together outline a Gros Ventre cultural geography..."The strength of the narrative is the rich detail of ritual description: fasting, sacrifices, vision experiences, the practices of healing. By describing ritual in the context of a man's life, the book gives a uniquely historical understanding of the dynamics of traditional religious life. It provides deeper understanding of the Gros Ventres' way of life and gives a valuable comparative perspective on plains Indian religion". (Raymond J. DeMallie, Western Historical Quarterly). George Horse Capture is field manager of Fort Belknap Ventures. Inc., a tribal enterprise to develop and market traditional Indian art. At present he is helping to establish a tribal museum.

For centuries, ornamental robes made of buffalo hide and fur were painted with intricate figures and scenes by artists of the various Native American nations. A great number of these robes were brought to France in the 18th century, many of which are now housed in the extraordinary collection of the Musee de l'Homme in Paris. This volume, illustrated with more than a hundred color plates, presents a gallery of the hides with commentary by George P. Horse Capture, who also contributes an illustrated essay on the craft and history of buffalo hide painting. Three experts on Native American art provide introductory and historical essays.