History, Law, and Indian Claims: An Introduction

Abstract

In the past 25 years, interest in Indian history has increased dramatically. This is part of a more general shift in historical focus, as many historians have realized that their predecessors tended to undervalue the roles and contributions of women, racial minorities, and other marginalized groups in the social, economic, and political development of North American society. In the American West, this shift in perspective has spawned a "new Western history" that has revitalized historical inquiry and deepened our understanding of the region's unique past.

Originally published in Journal of the West 39:3 (Summer 2000). Copyright Journal of the West ©2000, reprinted with permission of ABC-CLIO, LLC.

Keywords: history, law, indian, claims, aboriginal