Customer Reviews

Playing Indian (Yale Historical Publications Series)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

One thing that has always perplexed Indian people is the way in which our white brothers could overrun our lands with their guns and bibles, on the one hand, yet still maintain a romantic fascination with Indian ways, as evidenced in their books and movies. Deloria's work offers insight into the process through which non-Indians have appropriated the Indian nations' rights and territories into an anglicized assertion that they are now the "native" people of this land by right of conquest. Consequently, "playing Indian" has nothing to do with respecting actual Indian people, but rather with assuming the guise of authenticity. In other words, playing Indian is at best an attempt by non-Indians to forge a new American identity; at worst, it is a political ruse meant to justify the brutal colonization of other peoples' homelands. In both cases, Deloria demonstrates that both type of Indian playing has little interest in consulting with any Indian people, hence the absence of Indian voices in the historical discourse. In the end, if Deloria has made some, clearly non-Indian, readers uncomfortable (or bored, as one person sadly admitted), it is probably because he wanted such readers to critically examine their own motivations for taking an interest in Indians. Are they interested in promoting justice and sovereingty for Indian nations today? Or do they merely think Indian stuff is cool and just a harmless diversion?

I found it interesting to read about the early colonial desire to feel new and non-European, and craft a noble, aboriginal identity (ie -Indian) for new Americans, in American literature, costume, and civic and fraternal organizations. The author's brief paragraphs on the early 20th Century rift in the Boy Scouts of America (between a nature/ indian-centric philosophy and a para-military/Christian one) could help readers understand the current debates in the Scouting movement.

Playing Indian provides a serious argument in the debate over what American identity is. Deloria proves that although white America has traditionally considered itself as an original and true nation, white Americans have proved less secure about their national identity. In this book Deloria identifies numerous attempts by white Americans to recreate themselves as authentic Americans by assuming Native American identities. A must for anyone interested in American history.

I read with interest some of the other reviews. I felt I had to comment because one of the reviewers opines that the book lacks the "voices of native americans." Hmm...I think Phillip Deloria is the grandson of one of the most respected "native americans" living today, Vine Deloria, who is also an author, educator, and political activitist. Mr. Vine Deloria is tribal affiliated; I suspect his grandson is too. By the way, excellent book, Playing Indian, if you are serious about understanding American culture and the dynamics of hegemony. I found none of it boring or difficult to read.

Overall, this is an excellent work on how "anglo American" culture has taken Native culture in such things as fraternal/masonic organizations (Improved Order of Red Men), youth organizations (Boy Scouts, Woodcraft Indians, Camp Fire Girls, etc), Indian Hobbyist groups, and more.

However, I would have like to seen more substantial coverage in these areas. As a Boy Scout Leader and Arrowman, his coverage of Native culture use in youth groups could have gone further. This is little mention of the Order of the Arrow and other honor socities formed within the Boy Scouts based on Native culture (and the author is himself an arrowman!). And I don't recall if he mentioned the Y-Indian Guide programs!

Still, a good work in this area

Philip J. Deloria presents an interesting assessment of American identity as it relates to Indian identity. Yes, this is an important aspect of American identity in general because it shows how far American's perceptions of Native Americans have come since the establishment of American society during the eighteenth century. Deloria's Playing Indian is important scholarship in understanding Americanness from a historical perspective.

However, Deloria's book, once again, lacks the voices of Native Americans. Yes, there is mention of the controversial Tammany Society and their relations with Creek Indians, but where are the Creek voices? Deloria chooses to write from one perspective that does not completely reveal the complicated issue of Playing Indian. He attempts to clearly discuss how Indian identity has shaped the national identity of Americans, but some where in the fold where he discusses the interior and exterior Indian, he lost me. It only took a matter of re-readings to somewhat understand his point.

Nonetheless, the concluding chapters discuss the counterculture embracing Indianness as part of their identity. Deloria ties this aspect of American and Indian relations in order to show how Indianness brought a sense of unity as it pertained all races during the tumultous 1960s and early 1970s. This may have been the most significant part of the book that offers an inkling of how close Americans came to "coming together" communally with Indians, but Americans still did not fully grasp the reality of being Indian or fully welcoming Native American people within American society. Indeed, Indians still appear as the Other.

Playing Indian provides a serious argument in the debate over what American identity is. Deloria proves that although white America has traditionally considered itself as an original and true nation, white Americans have proved less secure about their national identity. In this book Deloria identifies numerous attempts by white Americans to recreate themselves as authentic Americans by assuming Native American identities. A must for anyone interested in American history.

Interesting look at how the Native Americans have made their mark on our national identity -- how the European Americans have used characteristics of the American Indians to describe themselves.

Prompt service. Book in the condition stated. I will use this seller again.

This book was required for me to read for my class. I found the book very dull and dry. It left you thirsty and quite annoyed. It took too, long for Deloria to say what he wanted to say. The book kept pulling you along and made you very tired and sleepy. It is an excellent book to read if you have trouble sleeping.