Book Review: 'Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians'

I once was asked by a high school English teacher if I could come speak to her students about contemporary American Indian literature and if I could come dressed in my costume. I told her I don't have a costume, but would be happy to wear a bolo tie. Realizing it was an opportunity to educate her, I did take the opportunity to explain to her that what American Indians wear at powwows is called regalia, not costumes. She called the next day my office to ask my administrative assistant if I was coming because she thought maybe she had offended me. My administrative assistant assured the teacher I would be there.

At the appointed time, I went to the high school wearing a bolo tie and presented a lecture on contemporary American Indian authors before an English literature class.

This encounter happened several years before Anton Treuer, Leech Lake Ojibwe, wrote "Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask." Had it been written then, I would have brought it with me to be part of the mix of what non-Natives should read if they want to learn about American Indians.