Rich Wandschneider

Well said. People find everything in the Nez Perce story--there are literally hundreds of books--and I think Sharstein is bringing Indians into the American discussion of race. Indians have been a puzzlement in that regard, as they were of course here first, and they were from the beginning admired and feared. They were noble savages or savage savages, and were forced onto reservations or assimilated or killed. They are still subjects of derision and admiration--for courage and stamina in face of oppression--and we still do not know how to deal with Indians in terms of their race, treaties, religions, and world views.