Library Journal Review

This posthumously published monograph by the founding chair of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian broadly surveys the history of the Nez Perce, whose homeland once encompassed portions of present-day Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The text focuses on the relations with citizens of the United States following the Lewis and Clark expedition. Particularly poignant are the accounts of how tribal leaders were divided during treaty negotiations, as some advocated accommodating the desires of the United States by moving to reservations while others were determined to preserve their sovereignty at all costs. Josephy (The Indian Heritage of America) deftly situates Chief Joseph within this leadership struggle to demonstrate that while he was a respected tribal leader, he was not the "Indian Napoleon" that he was mythologized to be by white society. By contextualizing Chief Joseph properly, Josephy illuminates other Nez Perce leaders whose efforts have been largely ignored. Although Josephy's history concludes in the 1960s, the introduction by Jeremy FiveCrows (publications editor, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission) vibrantly brings the Nez Perce story to the present. This well-written monograph is recommended for public and academic libraries.-John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.