
have been an enduring, important component of the symbolic underpinnings of the ongoing American construction project."-Joane Nagel, American Quarterly

This book persuaded me that images of Indians and Indianness. "Deloria’s Playing Indian traces whites’ ambivalent fascination with Native Americans from the earliest days of the U.S. Contrary to the conventional wisdom that prevailed throughout most of our history, the Indians will remain."-Peter Iverson, American Historical Review This book reminds us that at least one question about America has been settled. This important book belongs in all American history collections."- Library Journal Beginning before the Boston Tea Party, and continuing into the present, Americans have adopted Indian attire, images, and traditions for both political and individual needs. Americans need Indians in order to define themselves as Americans, asserts Deloria. "Deloria demonstrates how 'Indian play' has always taken on new shape and focus to engage the most pressing issues of a particular historical moment, and he notes that American views of Indians tell us much more about Americans than they do about Indians. And, according to this lucid, nimble and occasionally, frolicsome re-examination of the history of the United States, it is one that Americans have often tried to answer by 'playing Indian.'"-Jim Boothroyd, Times Literary Supplement Every American generation since has asked the same question. "'What, then, is the American, this new man?,' asked J. Playing Indian speaks volumes, and it says much more than 'How!'"-Jeremy MacClancy, Times Higher Education Supplement "Deloria argues nothing is so ideologically weighted as a seemingly innocent pleasure.

Deloria, builds his case with caution and precision, careful to avoid sweeping claims." -Michael Kenney, Boston Globe
