Great Plains Studies, Center for
Date of this Version
1996
Abstract
Clark's unique approach in Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock allows him to go beyond the initial examination oflegal precedent to reveal a story of human dignity and a people's survival. The book presents an authoritative account of Kiowa band chief Lone Wolf's relentless attempts, through various legal channels, to halt the selection and assignment of his own allotment. In the end, he joined the Elk Creek Baptist church and lived on his allotment with his family. What Lone Wolf and his tribe hoped to gain from the lawsuit, how the Court bestowed on Congress unlimited power over Indian affairs, and the impact of this case on other tribes and overseas colonial peoples are all ably discussed in Clark's inquiry. More than a modest case study, Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock is a significant examination of early tribal life on the reservation, Indian opinion regarding national policy, and Indian rights at the turn of the century. Scholars and students should find it an important contribution to the field of Indian studies.