These thirteen essays, taken from the pages of South Dakota History, the quarterly journal of the South Dakota State Historical Society, explore modern American Indian political and cultural life. In five themed sections, contributors examine the tremendous changes the Sioux experienced during the twentieth century. The political and social ramifications of land heirship, the damming of the Missouri River, and shifting federal policies are among topics discussed. Health care, recreation, and education are viewed through the windows of a psychiatric facility, reservation rodeos, and the experiences of a day-school teacher. The tumultuous build-up to the violence at Wounded Knee in 1973 is covered as well, along with issues surrounding land allotment and efforts to eradicate tuberculosis. Editor Richmond L. Clow contributes an introduction and afterword providing context for the essays and suggesting avenues for further study.

Contributors: Harry H. Anderson, Roger Bromert, Richmond L. Clow, Joshua Garrett-Davis, Frederick E. Hoxie, Michael L. Lawson, Allison Fuss Mellis, Akim D. Reinhardt, Scott Riney, Steven C. Schulte, Don Southerton, Laura Woodworth-Ney.