American Indian Treaties: A Guide to Ratified and Unratified Colonial, United States, State, Foreign, and Intertribal Treaties and Agreements, 1607-1911

Description

When it comes to American Indian treaties| the American polity too often forgets the realities of history. Prevailing perceptions are often not only inaccurate but also premised on outright falsehoods. Treaty-making was profoundly influenced by tribal conceptions of diplomacy. Colonial and early U.S. treaties especially were clothed in ritual| metaphor| and covenants that emphasized the sacred nature and purpose of diplomacy and represented a time when tribal nations were equal partners. To understand the nature and meaning of tribal treaties one needs to read them and recognize their sacred pledges and meaning| which are still relevant today.

This volume examines intertribal treaties and treaty-making and provides understanding of both the agreements and the diplomatic protocols in which they were enmeshed. It summarizes colonial Indian treaty discourse| intertribal treaties and diplomacy| the different eras of ratified and unratified U.S. treaties| foreign and state treaties with Indian nations| and the Indian agreements that followed the cessation of official treaty-making. It provides extensive lists of over 1|500 Indian treaties from all tribal diplomatic eras and includes dates| participants| purposes| and references.