“Essential. . . . These are stories of persistence in the face of incredible opposition and difficulty, of personal strength and community resilience despite racism and poverty, stories demonstrating how Native people have always relied on one another—what we called ‘making do’—regardless of their tribal status.”—Native American and Indigenous Studies
 
"The Southeastern Indian people found their voices in this work. They are alive and well--still on their land!"--Hiram F. Gregory, coauthor of The Historic Indian Tribes of Louisiana: From 1542 to the Present

"This collection fills a major void in our understanding of recent southern history by offering a wide-ranging selection of southern Indians a chance to speak for themselves, unfiltered, as they strike at the heart of identity: Indian identity, southern identity, and, ultimately, American identity."--Greg O’Brien, editor of Pre-removal Choctaw History: Exploring New Paths


The history of Native Americans in the U.S. South is a turbulent one, rife with conflict and inequality. Since the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the fifteenth century, Native peoples have struggled to maintain their land, cultures, and ways of life. In We Will Always Be Here, contemporary tribal leaders, educators, and activists speak about their own experiences fighting for Indian identity, self-determination, cultural survival, and community development. This valuable collection portrays the lives of today's Southern Indians in their own words.


Reflecting on such issues as poverty, education, racism, cultural preservation, and tribal sovereignty, the contributors to this volume offer a glimpse into the historical struggles of southern Native peoples, examine their present-day efforts, and share their hopes for the future. They also share examples of cultural practices that have either endured or been revitalized. In a country that still faces challenges to civil rights and misconceptions about Indian identity and tribal sovereignty, this timely book builds a deeper understanding of modern Native peoples within a region where they are often overlooked.

Denise E. Bates is an historian and assistant professor in leadership and interdisciplinary studies at Arizona State University. She is the author of The Other Movement: Indian Rights and Civil Rights in the Deep South.
 
Contributors: Nanette Sconiers Pupalaikis | Stan Cartwright | Patricia Easterwood| Wanda Light Tully| Framon Weaver| Nancy Wright Carnley| Otha Martin| Marie Martin| Pauline Martin| Nathan Martin| Karla Martin| Kaci Martin| Marvin T. Jones| Shoshone Peguese-Elmardi| Lars Adams| Doug Patterson| Kenneth Adams| Hodalee Scott Sewell| Tony Mack McClure| Cedric Sunray| Brooke Bauer| Donna Pierite| Jean-Luc Pierite| Elisabeth Pierite-Mora| Harold Comby| Tom Hendrix| Michael "T. Mayheart" Dardar| Marcus Briggs-Cloud| Marvin "Marty" Richardson| Dana Chapman Masters| Robert Jumper| Robert Caldwell| Megan Young| Jessica Osceola| Ernest Sickey| Jeanette Alcon| Charles “Chuckie” Verdin| Phyliss J. Anderson| David Sickey| Stephanie Bryan| Malinda Maynor Lowery| Ahli-sha Stephens| Elliott Nichols

Sample Chapter(s):

Excerpt

Table of Contents

Reflecting on such issues as poverty, education, racism, cultural preservation, and tribal sovereignty, the contributors to this volume offer a glimpse into the historical struggle[s] of Southern Native peoples, examine their present-day efforts and share their hopes for the future...In a country that still faces challenges to civil rights and misconceptions about Indian identity and tribal sovereignty, [this] book builds a deeper understanding of modern native peoples within a region where they are often overlooked.
--American Press

An excellent introduction to modern Native people in the southeastern United States. . . . Readers wishing to learn about and connect with southern Native people should consult this work.
--North Carolina Historical Review

This moving anthology . . . reveal[s] the richness and variety of Native American life in the South during the 20th century.
--Choice