The Vanishing Race: The Last Great Indian Council by Joseph K. Dixon

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Dixon, Joseph K. (Joseph Kossuth), 1856-1926 Dixon, Joseph K. (Joseph Kossuth), 1856-1926
English
Picture this: It's 1909, and over 200 Native American leaders from across the continent are gathered in one place for what they know will be the last time. Photographer Joseph K. Dixon was there, not just with his camera, but with a mission to document what he called a 'vanishing race.' This book is his record of that final council—a collection of stunning photographs and speeches that feels less like a history lesson and more like being handed a time capsule. It’s haunting, beautiful, and forces you to ask: who gets to tell the story of a people's end?
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games, their warfare, religion, and the country in which they live. As a result, on Washington’s Birthday, 1913, thirty-two Indian chiefs, representing eleven tribes, assembled with the President of the United States together with many eminent citizens and details from the Army and Navy to open ground for the Indian Memorial authorized by act of Congress to be erected in the harbour of New York. The Indian chiefs assembled, hoisted the American flag, the first time in their history. This act and the flag gave birth to a thrill of patriotism. These warriors of other days laid claim to a share in the destiny of our country. So deeply were these First Americans impressed with a sense of loyalty to the flag that, again under the authority of the President of the United States, a third Expedition was sent forth to every Indian tribe. The purpose of this Expedition was twofold, the linking of every tribe in the country with the National Indian Memorial, and the inspiring of an ideal of patriotism in the mind of the red man—a spirit of patriotism that would lead to a desire for citizenship—a feeling of friendship and allegiance, to be eternally sealed as a convenant in the Indian Memorial. Here, under the blessing of God, on the shores of our beloved country, where the red man first gave welcome to the white man, this Memorial will stand in eternal bronze, in memory of a noble, though vanishing race, and a token to all the world of the one and indivisible citizenship of these United States. RODMAN WANAMAKER. [The Approach of the Chiefs] The Approach of the Chiefs ACKNOWLEDGMENT FIRST of all, William Howard Taft, President of the United States, gave his sanction to this Expedition, and Hon. Robert Grosvenor Valentine, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, gave his permission to assemble eminent chiefs from the prominent Indian Reservations of the United States, and complemented his courtesy by helpful interest and cooperation. The Superintendents of the various Indian Reservations gave spontaneous and willing service; Major S. G. Reynolds, Superintendent of the Crow Reservation by sympathetic and efficient interest made possible the achievement of the Last Great Indian Council; Hon. Frederick Webb Hodge, in charge of the Bureau of American Ethnology confirmed the data secured. The Hand Book of American Indians made possible the larger scope of the suggestions on Indian dress. The great chiefs who participated in the Council in noble and faithful fashion lived out the history and tradition of their tribes. Heartfelt appreciation is merited and given to all. Since the publication of the first edition of “The Vanishing Race”, further grateful acknowledgment is accorded. While conducting a nation-wide Expedition of Citizenship to the North American Indian, embracing 189 tribes and extending over 26,000 miles, the author was adopted into the Wolf clan of the Mohawk nation,—Iroquois Confederacy. They said, “You have traveled so far, traveled so fast, and brought so much light and life to the Indian that we call you ‘Ka-ra-Kon-tie, Flying Sun’.” THE AUTHOR. PERSONÆ Representative North American Indian Chiefs, scouts, and warriors participating in the Last Great Indian Council, held in the valley of the Little Horn, Montana, September, 1909, with their English, tribal, and Indian designations. CHIEF PLENTY COUPS, Chief of the Crow Nation, bearing the Indian name of Aleck-shea-Ahoos, signifying Many Achievements. CHIEF RED WHIP, an eminent Chief of the Gros Ventres Tribe, bearing the Indian name of Bein-es-Kanach. CHIEF TIMBO, OR HAIRLESS, Head Chief of the Comanche Tribe, bearing the Indian name of Tah-cha-chi. CHIEF APACHE JOHN, an eminent Apache Chief, bearing the Indian name of Koon-kah-za-chy,...

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This isn't a novel with a plot in the traditional sense. Instead, it's a direct account of a real historical event. In September 1909, under the sponsorship of a railroad tycoon, Dixon organized a massive council at the Crow Agency in Montana. He brought together chiefs, warriors, and elders from dozens of tribes, many of whom were historical adversaries. For several days, they shared speeches, performed ceremonies, and allowed Dixon to photograph them in a formal, portrait style. The book presents these photos alongside transcripts of their words, creating a powerful snapshot of a pivotal moment.

Why You Should Read It

You should read it for the voices. While Dixon's perspective is very much a product of his time (he believed he was preserving a 'dying' culture), the power of the book comes from the Native leaders themselves. Their speeches, translated on the page, are full of dignity, sorrow, humor, and profound wisdom about land, memory, and change. Looking into the faces in the photographs—the direct gaze of Chief Plenty Coups, the solemn expression of Red Cloud—is an incredibly moving experience. It makes history feel immediate and personal.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, photography, or the power of primary sources. It's perfect for readers who want to look beyond textbook summaries and hear from the people who lived through a period of immense upheaval. Be prepared: it's not an easy read emotionally, but it's an important and visually stunning one that will stay with you.



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Nancy Lopez
4 months ago

Good quality content.

David Wilson
1 year ago

Amazing book.

Betty Martinez
3 months ago

Enjoyed every page.

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4 out of 5 (3 User reviews )

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