Playing Indian

by Philip J. Deloria

Book Overview

The Boston Tea Party, the Order of Red Men, Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, Grateful Dead concerts: just a few examples of white Americans' tendency to appropriate Indian dress and act out Indian roles

"A valuable contribution to Native American studies."--Kirkus Reviews

This provocative book explores how white Americans have used their ideas about Native Americans to shape national identity in different eras--and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300080670
• ISBN13: 9780300080674
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

"hearing the voices of native americans"

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.

Playing Indian

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

Insight into an enduring problem

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?

A brilliant book

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 development of a new American identity

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.