Super important read. Going to reread with family. Looking forward to getting back into his other work, "God is Red". This shows a much more nuanced picture of the state of "Indian" affairs as of the 1970's and 80's and is strikingly similar to some aspects we see today. It is funny at times, painfully blunt and honest at others and engaging all the way through.

This book makes me want to explore further the nature of individualism vs. tribalism. Deloria points out later in the book that much of society in America became corporate tribalism even as tribes were forcibly shifted to individuals and continuously divided. Honestly, the more I understand about the differences and how they effect the psyche of a populace, the more individualism scares me. Another book I read awhile ago goes into how the Chilean people were made to feel just how 'individual' they were through torture and psychological trauma. I see that we did this shit first, to Native Americans.

Another thing this book shows me is how easily one can turn another human being into an object, losing site of the people for the cause or the money or the land.

I started off borrowing this one after purchasing and starting into Deloria's later work, "God is Red". Later, I bought it. Now I feel like I can go into his next work with a bit more understanding of his perspective.

Really worth reading. Really important reading.