Contains biographical sketches, ranging in length from 300 to 3,000 words, on figures in North American Indian history, extending from the arrival of European colonists on North American shores to the early twenty-first century.

Essays originally appeared in American Indian biographies (1999), Dictionary of world biography, Great lives from history: the Renaissance & early modern era, 1454-1600 (2005), and American ethnic writers (2000). New material has been added.

Adair, John L. Adario -- Alexie, Sherman -- Alford, Thomas Wildcat -- Allen, Paula Gunn -- American Horse -- Annawan -- Antonio, Juan -- Apes, William -- Arapoosh -- Arpeika -- Asah, Spencer -- Atotarho -- Auchiah, James -- Awa Tsireh -- Bad Heart Bull, Amos -- Banks, Dennis -- Barboncito -- Bear Hunter -- Bear's Heart, James -- Big Bear -- Big Bow -- Big Foot -- Big Tree -- Big Warrior -- Black Elk -- Black Hawk -- Black Kettle -- Blacksnake -- Bloody Knife -- Blue Eagle, Acee -- Bonnin, Gertrude Simmons -- Boudinot, Elias -- Boudinot, Elias Cornelius -- Bowl -- Bowlegs, Billy -- Brant, Joseph -- Brant, Molly -- Bronson, Ruth Muskrat -- Bruce, Louis R. -- Buffalo Hump -- Bull Bear -- Bushyhead, Dennis Wolf -- Campbell, Ben Nighthorse -- Canonchet -- Canonicus -- Captain Jack -- Catahecassa -- Chariot -- Cher -- Chisholm, Jesse -- Cloud, Henry Roe -- Cochise -- Colorow -- Comcomly -- Conquering Bear -- Copway, George -- Cornplanter -- Cornstalk -- Crashing Thunder -- Crazy Horse -- Crazy Snake -- Crow Dog -- Crow Dog, Mary -- Crowfoot -- Curly -- Curtis, Charles -- Datsolalee -- Decora, Spoon -- Deer, Ada Elizabeth -- Deganawida -- Dekanisora -- Delaware Prophet -- Delgadito -- Deloria, Ella Cara -- Deloria, Vine, Jr. -- Delshay -- Dodge, Henry Chee -- Dohasan -- Donnaconna -- Dorris, Michael -- Dozier, Edward Pasqual -- Dragging Canoe -- Dull Knife -- Eastman, Charles Alexander -- Erdrich, Louise -- Eskiminzin -- Flat Mouth -- Foreman, Stephen -- Francis, Josiah -- Francis, Milly Hayo -- Gall. Ganado Mucho -- Garakontie, Daniel -- Garra, Antonio Garry, Spokane -- General, Alexander -- George, Dan -- Geronimo -- Gilcrease, William Thomas -- Gladstone, James -- Godfroy, Francis -- Gorman, R.C. -- Grass, John -- Great Sun -- Greene, Graham -- Hagler -- Hale, Janet Campbell -- Half-King -- Hancock -- Handsome Lake -- Harjo, Joy -- Harper, Elijah -- Harris, LaDonna -- Hayes, Ira Hamilton -- Heat-Moon, William Least -- Hewitt, John N.B. -- Hiawatha -- Highway, Tomson -- Hogan, Linda -- Hokeah, Jack -- Hole-In-The-Day -- Hollow Horn Bear -- Hooker Jim -- Hopocan -- Howe, Oscar -- Howling Wolf -- Hump -- Hunt, George -- Ignacio -- Inkpaduta -- Irateba -- Isatai -- Ishi -- Isparhecher -- Johnson, Emily Pauline -- Jones, Peter -- Joseph the Younger -- Journeycake, Charles -- Kamiakin -- Katlian -- Kennekuk -- Keokuk -- Kicking Bear -- Kicking Bird -- Klah, Hosteen -- Konkapot, John -- La Flesche, Francis -- La Flesche, Susan -- La Flesche, Susette or Josette -- Lame Deer -- Lawyer -- Lean Bear -- Left Hand the First -- Left Hand the Second -- Little Crow -- Little Priest -- Little Raven -- Little Robe -- Little Turtle -- Little Wolf -- Logan, James -- Lone Wolf -- Looking Glass. Macdonald, Peter -- McGillivray, Alexander -- McIntosh, William -- McNickle, D'Arcy -- McQueen, Peter -- Mangas Coloradas -- Mankato --- Mankiller, Wilma Pearl -- Manuelito -- Martinez, Crescencio -- Martinez, Julin -- Martinez, Maria Antonia -- Massasoit -- Mato Tope -- Matonabbee -- Means, Russell -- Medicine, Bea -- Menewa -- Metacomet -- Miantonomo -- Micanopy -- Mills, Billy -- Modesto, Ruby -- Momaday, N. Scott -- Montezuma, Carlos -- Mopope, Stephen -- Moses -- Mountain Chief -- Mountain Wolf Woman -- Mourning Dove -- Murie, James -- Musgrove, Mary -- Naiche -- Nakaidoklini -- Nampeyo -- Nana -- Natawista -- Natiotish -- Neolin -- Newton, Wayne -- Ninham, Daniel -- Ninigret -- Oakes, Richard -- Occom, Samson -- Oconostota -- Old Briton -- One Bull -- Opechancanough -- Opothleyaholo -- Ortiz, Simon -- Osceola -- Oshkosh -- Otherday, John -- Ouray -- Parker, Arthur Caswell -- Parker, Ely Samuel -- Parker, Quanah -- Passaconaway -- Pawhuska -- Peltier, Leonard -- Pemisapan -- Peña, Tonita -- Peratrovich, Elizabeth W. -- Petalésharo -- Pitchlynn, Peter Perkins -- Plenty Coups -- Pocahontas -- Pokagon, Leopold -- Pokagon, Simon -- Pontiac -- Popé -- Popovi Da -- Porter, Pleasant -- Porter-Locklear, Freda -- Posey, Alexander Lawrence -- Poundmaker -- Powhatan -- Pretty Shield -- Pushmataha -- Queen Anne -- Quinney, John W. -- Rain in the Face -- Red Bird -- Red Cloud -- Red Jacket -- Red Shoes -- Red Tomahawk, Marcellus. Reifel, Ben -- Renville, Joseph -- Ridge, John Rollin -- Ridge, Major -- Riel, Louis, Jr. -- Riggs, Lynn -- Robertson, Robbie -- Rocky Boy -- Rogers, Will -- Roman Nose -- Ross, John -- Ross, Mary G.-- Sacagawea -- Sainte-Marie, Buffy -- Samoset -- Sampson, Will -- Sassacus -- Satank -- Satanta -- Scarface Charlie -- Scholder, Fritz -- Seattle -- Sequoyah -- Shábona -- Shikellamy -- Short Bull -- Silko, Leslie Marmon -- Silverheels, Jay -- Sitting Bull -- Slocum, John -- Smohalla -- Snake, euben -- Spotted Tail -- Spybuck, Ernest -- Squanto -- Standing Bear -- Standing Bear, Luther -- Studi, Wes -- Stumbling Bear -- Sweezy, Carl -- Swimmer -- Sword, George -- Tall Bull -- Tallchief, Maria -- Tammany -- Tapahonso, Luci -- Tarhe -- Tavibo -- Tawaquaptewa -- Tecumseh -- Teedyuscung -- Tekakwitha, Kateri -- Ten Bears -- Tendoy -- Tenskwatawa -- Thorpe, Jim -- Tiger, Jerome R. -- Tomah -- Tomochichi -- Trudell, John -- Tsali -- Tsatoke, Monroe -- Two Crows -- Two Leggings -- Two Moon -- Two Strike -- Tyon, Thomas -- Uncas -- Victorio -- Vizenor, Gerald R[obert] -- Waban -- Waheenee -- Wapasha -- Ward, Nancy -- Warren, William W. -- Warrior, Clyde -- Washakie -- Watie, Stand -- Wauneka, Annie Dodge -- Weatherford, William -- Weetamoo -- Welch, James -- White Bird -- White Bull -- White Cloud -- White Eyes -- White Hat, Albert -- White Man Runs Him -- Wildcat -- Williams, Eleazar -- Winema -- Winnemucca, Sarah -- Wooden Leg -- Wovoka -- Wright, Allen -- Yellow Wolf -- Yellow Tail, Robert -- Yonaguska -- Young Bear -- Young Man Afraid of His Horses -- Zotom -- Time Line -- Tribal Affiliations Index -- Index.