While Native American communities remain culturally innovative and continue to struggle for survival, researchers, teachers, and students lack texts that both represent the breadth of contemporary experiences and look toward the future. Editor Duane Champagne has assembled a volume of top scholarship reflecting the complexity and diversity of Native American cultural life. Section introductions provide background and analyses of the issues. Informative and critical studies offer experiences and perspectives from a variety of Native settings. This book and its companion volume, Contemporary Native American Political Issues, edited by Troy R. Johnson, are ideal teaching tools and resources for anyone working in or with Native communities.

Duane Champagne is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Native Nations Law and Policy Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Chapter 1 Duane Champagne, Introduction Part 2 I. Native Identity Chapter 3 1. D. Mihesuah, American Indian Identities: Issues of Individual Choices and Development Chapter 4 2. W. Churchill, The Crucible of American Indian Identity: Native Tradition versus Colonial Imposition in Postconquest North America Part 5 II. Gender Chapter 6 3. K.B. Chiste, Aboriginal Women and Self-Government Chapter 7 4. B. Brant, The Good Red Road: Journeys of Homecoming in Native Women's Writing Chapter 8 5. B.G. Miller, Contemporary Tribal Codes and Gender Issues Part 9 III. Contemporary Powwow Chapter 10 6. M. Mattern, The Powwow as a Public Arena Chapter 11 7. L.E. Lassiter, Southwestern Oklahoma, the Gourd Dance, and "Charlie Brown" Part 12 IV. Film and Other Media Chapter 13 8. L.A. Whitt, Cultural Imperialism and the Marketing of Native America Chapter 14 9. S. Leuthold, Native Media's Communities Chapter 15 10. L.P. Brumbaugh, Ethnical Issues for Photographers of Native Americans Part 16 V. Health Chapter 17 11. P.A. May, Epidemiology of Alcohol Abuse among Native Americans Chapter 18 12. C.M. Pego et al., Tobacco, Culture, and Health among Native Americans Chapter 19 13. M.C. Mahoney and A.M. Michalek, Cancer Control Research among American Indians and Alaska Natives Part 20 VI. Environmental Issues Chapter 21 14. D. Waller, Friendly Fire: When Environmentalists Dehumanize American Indians Chapter 22 15. J. Wolfley, Ecological Risk Assessment and Management Chapter 23 16. R. L. Spieldoch, Uranium Is In My Body Chapter 24 Index Chapter 25 Acknowledgments Chapter 26 About the Editor