In his groundbreaking and provocative new book (set to be released in June 2010) “In the Courts of the Conqueror: The Ten Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided,” noted Native American attorney and activist Walter R. Echo-Hawk reveals the dark underbelly of the American legal system and shows how it has rendered legal the destruction of Native Americans and their culture.
Rich in historical detail, and showing how the echoes of court decisions over the years continue to resonate and shape Indian Country, “In the Courts of the Conqueror” provides a vital understanding of our current society. More than mere history, the book challenges readers to reexamine our country through a different lens and, in so doing, issues a clarion call for change.
According to Echo-Hawk, the reader “will close this book with a thirst for justice and an eagerness to confront the many challenges that lie ahead as we stride toward a more just society in the postcolonial world.” Like other great eye-opening books on Native American culture and history, such as “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” and “Custer Died for Your Sins,” “In the Courts of the Conqueror” is provocative and fresh writing at its best.
Walter Echo-Hawk is a lawyer, tribal judge, scholar and activist whose legal experience includes cases involving Native American religious freedom, prisoner rights, water rights, treaty rights, and reburial/repatriation rights.