The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America

In discussing Indian representations in American culture, King uses the concept of a simulacrum, which King defines as “something that represents something that never existed” (54). How are representations of Indians a simulacrum? How do these false representations impact real Indians’ lives?

In the Prologue King explicitly states that he does not intend to write a traditional book of history. How does The Inconvenient Indian differ from typical historiography, and how does this writing style help King make his arguments about the history of Indian-White relations?

In Chapter 9 King argues that Indian-White relations can be boiled down to one key issue: “Whites want land” (216). Do you agree with King’s assertion? Use examples of historical events from the book to analyze the role that land has played in Indian-White relations.