A perfect introduction to a vital subject very few
Americans understand-the constitutional status of American
Indians
Few American s know that Indian tribes have
a legal status unique among America's distinct racial and ethnic
groups: they are sovereign governments who engage in relations with
Congress. This peculiar arrangement has led to frequent legal and
political disputes-indeed, the history of American Indians and
American law has been one of clashing values and sometimes uneasy
compromise. In this clear-sighted account, American Indian scholar
N. Bruce Duthu explains the landmark cases in Indian law of the
past two centuries. Exploring subjects as diverse as jurisdictional
authority, control of environmental resources, and the regulations
that allow the operation of gambling casinos, American Indians
and the Law gives us an accessible entry point into a vital
facet of Indian history.