In this book one of America's leading writers of Indian History examines the aspirations and feelings of today's Indians-what they want and why they want it. Using the particular histories of seven Indian tribes or groups, Alvin Josephy analyzes seven principal issues in the continuing face-off between Indians and Whites:

- The Indians' will to endure as Indians

- Racial sterotypes that influence Whites' treatment of Indians

- Indians' efforts to retain the deep spiritual basis of their lives

- The fight to retain tribal land bases

- Reassertion of Indian water rights

- Claims to fishing and hunting rights

- The modern-day quest for self-termination, sovereignty, and control of tribal affairs and resources

Those themes are the major aspects of contemporary Indian affairs that are least understood by non-Indians and tend to cause continued misunderstanding and conflicts with Whites.