A collection of 20 short biographies of American Indian warriors, statesmen, prophets, and scholars highlights leaders in the often tragic, yet inspiring, saga of North American Indians. Most of the heroes and heroines whose lives are briefly described were chiefs; some of them have become famous around the world. All were leaders in a great struggle to preserve treasured lands and lifeways. With their tribesmen, they are inseparably linked to our country's history from its earliest beginnings through generations of growth. A suggested reading list with headings for "General Background,""Tribes and Individuals," and "Publications on Indians by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for Sale Through the Superintendent of Document" concludes the document. (AH)