The Encyclopedia of Native American Legal Tradition - (Dilemmas in American Politics) Annotated by Bruce Elliott Johansen (Hardcover)

About the Book

Integrating American Indian law and Native American political and legal traditions, this encyclopedia includes detailed descriptions of nearly two dozen Native American Nations' legal and political systems such as the Iroquois, Cherokee, Choctaw, Navajo, Cheyenne, Creek, Chickasaw, Comanche, Sioux, Pueblo, Mandan, Wyandot, Powhatan, Mikmaq, and Yakima. Although not an Indian law casebook, this work does contain outlines of many major Indian law cases, congressional acts, and treaties. It also contains profiles of individuals important to the evolution of Indian law. This work will be of interest to scholars in several fields, including law, Native American studies, American history, political science, anthropology, and sociology.

Book Synopsis

Integrating American Indian law and Native American political and legal traditions, this encyclopedia includes detailed descriptions of nearly two dozen Native American Nations' legal and political systems such as the Iroquois, Cherokee, Choctaw, Navajo, Cheyenne, Creek, Chickasaw, Comanche, Sioux, Pueblo, Mandan, Wyandot, Powhatan, Mikmaq, and Yakima. Although not an Indian law casebook, this work does contain outlines of many major Indian law cases, congressional acts, and treaties. It also contains profiles of individuals important to the evolution of Indian law. This work will be of interest to scholars in several fields, including law, Native American studies, American history, political science, anthropology, and sociology.

Review Quotes

"The Encyclopedia of Native American Legal Tradition appears at a particularly propitious time. Bruce E. Johansen has produced a valuable and accessible reference work, useful to academic researchers but largely free of legal jargon. More significantly, he has filled a gap left by similar recent works such as the American Indian Law Deskbook by placing special emphasis on the impact of aboriginal legal traditions on Anglo-American legal doctrine....Johansen has produced a volume that will prove valuable to the specialist and lay reader alike. Legal and Native American historians will find it useful for a quick review of the case law, legislation, a helpful introduction to the impact and significance of Indian law on American jurisprudence. This is an important addition to the legal history reference shelf."-Great Plains Research

.,."and excellent addition to Native American studies, law, and U.S. history collections....This work is highly recommended."-ARBA

?The Encyclopedia of Native American Legal Tradition appears at a particularly propitious time. Bruce E. Johansen has produced a valuable and accessible reference work, useful to academic researchers but largely free of legal jargon. More significantly, he has filled a gap left by similar recent works such as the American Indian Law Deskbook by placing special emphasis on the impact of aboriginal legal traditions on Anglo-American legal doctrine....Johansen has produced a volume that will prove valuable to the specialist and lay reader alike. Legal and Native American historians will find it useful for a quick review of the case law, legislation, a helpful introduction to the impact and significance of Indian law on American jurisprudence. This is an important addition to the legal history reference shelf.?-Great Plains Research

?...and excellent addition to Native American studies, law, and U.S. history collections....This work is highly recommended.?-ARBA

?An essential work for legal and Native American collections.?-C&RL News

?In a simple and straightforward volume, Bruce Elliott Johansen has compiled a useful mix of topics....The entries are written so that interested nonprofessional readers can quickly grasp the outlines of the various topics that make up the continuing political relationships between the United States and American Indians....It will serve the busy writer/researcher well since basic citations are given with each entry....On the whole, this encyclopedia offers the reader quick and easy access to the important topics that constitute this aaspect of American Indian life. It reflects well the current understanding of the Native American legal tradition as it reaches this generation. It should be a welcome addition to personal and professional libraries.?-The Journal of American History

?The encyclopedia is highly recommended for any examination or investigation of constitutional or judicial law in the U.S. It will find use in a public, high-school, or academic library.?-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

?This specialized encyclopedia adds ready access and useful information to the expanding realm of reference works treating Native Americans and their history.?-The Encyclopedia of Native American Economic History

?Well written and clearly presented, this unique work belongs in every legal collection, Native American collection, or collection dealing with cultural anthropology or cultural diversity.?-Choice

..."and excellent addition to Native American studies, law, and U.S. history collections....This work is highly recommended."-ARBA

"An essential work for legal and Native American collections."-C&RL News

"In a simple and straightforward volume, Bruce Elliott Johansen has compiled a useful mix of topics....The entries are written so that interested nonprofessional readers can quickly grasp the outlines of the various topics that make up the continuing political relationships between the United States and American Indians....It will serve the busy writer/researcher well since basic citations are given with each entry....On the whole, this encyclopedia offers the reader quick and easy access to the important topics that constitute this aaspect of American Indian life. It reflects well the current understanding of the Native American legal tradition as it reaches this generation. It should be a welcome addition to personal and professional libraries."-The Journal of American History

"The encyclopedia is highly recommended for any examination or investigation of constitutional or judicial law in the U.S. It will find use in a public, high-school, or academic library."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

"This specialized encyclopedia adds ready access and useful information to the expanding realm of reference works treating Native Americans and their history."-The Encyclopedia of Native American Economic History

"Well written and clearly presented, this unique work belongs in every legal collection, Native American collection, or collection dealing with cultural anthropology or cultural diversity."-Choice

About the Author

BRUCE ELLIOTT JOHANSEN is Robert T. Reilly Professor of Journalism and Native American Studies at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. He is the author/editor of numerous books including Native American Political Systems and the Evolution of Democracy: An Annotated Bibliography (Greenwood, 1996).