Native American Identity in Sports Creating and Preserving a Culture

This collection of essays examines how sport has contributed to shaping and expressing Native American identity—from the attempt of the old Indian Schools to "Americanize" Native Americans through sport to the "Indian mascot" controversy and what it says about the broader public view of Native Americans. Additional essays explore the contemporary use of the traditional sport Toka to combat obesity in some Native American communities, the Seminoles’ commercialization of alligator wrestling—a "Native" sport that was, in fact, only developed as a sport due to interest from tourists—and much more. The contributions to this volume not only tell the story of Native Americans’ participation in the world of sports, but also how Native Americans have changed and enriched the sports world in the process.