Rez Life

Among all racial and ethnic groups in our country, Native Americans have a unique status.  In addition to being citizens of the United States, they are also members of sovereign tribal nations.  Legally the federal government considers Indian tribes and reservations as being “Domestic Dependent Nations“ or nations within our nation.  For most Americans this is a difficult concept to grasp.  In fact there are many aspects of Native American life which are confusing to most including tribal sovereignty and government, tribal courts, treaty hunting and fishing rights, and gaming casinos to name a few.

Rez Life addresses these issues and more.  The author does a good job of conveying to readers the complexities, both positive and negative, of contemporary Native American life.  He also provides readers with a historical context to expand our understanding of Native Americans unique experience in American Life.

Author David Treuer is a professor at the University of Southern California and is a member of the Ojibwe Nation from the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota.