Episodes in the Rhetoric of Government-Indian Relations

(Hardback)

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Illuminates the rhetorical legacy of conflicts between the United States government and Native American peoples. Scholarly considerations of the relationship between the United States government and Native Americans have largely ignored the rhetoric utilized by both in the course of their ongoing conflicts. This fascinating new study concentrates on the persuasive and public strategies of both government and Indian leaders, focusing on the written and oral records of several key episodes in American history. This approach, which author Janice Schuetz calls "rhetorical ancestry" reveals the ways in which government and Indian spokespersons have constituted and defined issues; created, prolonged, and managed conflict; and silenced and empowered each other's voices. Chronicling the emergence of government and Indian leaders who were forced to deal with conflicts in new ways, each chapter makes use of historical evidence to draw inferences about the rhetorical features of the discourse and its effects. Both verbal and nonverbal rhetoric--including treaties, letters, oral histories, speeches, ritual performances, media reports, biographical narratives, protests and demonstrations, political hearings, and legal proceedings--are represented here, illuminating a legacy that evolved in the personal and political language of its participants.

Reviews

[l]audable and a welcome addendum to scholary treatments of Native American rhetoric....[P]rofessor Schuetz admirably seeks throughout the book to bring a variety of methodologies to bear on her analysis....[E]pisodes should be a welcome addition to scholars interested in issues of dominance power.-Rhetoric & Public Affairs
This book illuminates a rhetorical legacy that evolved in the personal, political, and legal discourse of those who participated in the episodes. All levels and collections.-Choice
Uses speeches, treaties, oral histories, and other sources in a study of the "rhetorical ancestry" of relations between American Indians and the U.S. government.-The Chronicle of Higher Education
"laudable and a welcome addendum to scholary treatments of Native American rhetoric....Professor Schuetz admirably seeks throughout the book to bring a variety of methodologies to bear on her analysis....Episodes should be a welcome addition to scholars interested in issues of dominance power."-Rhetoric & Public Affairs
"This book illuminates a rhetorical legacy that evolved in the personal, political, and legal discourse of those who participated in the episodes. All levels and collections."-Choice
"Uses speeches, treaties, oral histories, and other sources in a study of the "rhetorical ancestry" of relations between American Indians and the U.S. government."-The Chronicle of Higher Education
"[l]audable and a welcome addendum to scholary treatments of Native American rhetoric....[P]rofessor Schuetz admirably seeks throughout the book to bring a variety of methodologies to bear on her analysis....[E]pisodes should be a welcome addition to scholars interested in issues of dominance power."-Rhetoric & Public Affairs

Author Bio

Janice Schuetz is a Professor of Communication at the University of New Mexico. She is the author of more than 60 articles and book chapters, and the co-author of, among other books, The O.J. Simpson Trials, The Logic of Women on Trial: Communication and Litigation, and Perspectives on Argumentation Theory.