Social Change And Cultural Continuity Among Native Nations

This collection of previously published articles describes aspects of the culture, international order and world view of American Indian nations, along with their economic, political and cultural relations with colonizing relations and the resulting states of change and continuity. Champagne (sociology and Native Nations Law and Policy Center, U. of California, Los Angeles), who is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, focuses on nations' increasing self-consciousness based on their own traditions, religions, institutions and communities and their movement away from assimilation. He finds this consistent with historical patterns as he describes spiritual autonomy, the cultural and institution foundations of Native American conservatism, native capitalist economy, political theory and sacred communities combining in tribal government and the continuing nature of self-government, multidimensional colonialism, native-directed social change and the rise of tribal political power, revitalization movements and cultural preservation, and efforts toward a new and more effective study methodology. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Duane Champagne is professor of sociology, director of the Native Nations Law and Policy Center at UCLA, and a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa from North Dakota. He has authored and edited over 75 publications.