American Indian Culture and Research Journal

INTRODUCTION Changes in the census data since 1960 point to the complexity of identity for American Indians today, a complexity that is even more pronounced in multitribal urban areas (see Table 1). Influenced by the work of early anthropologists, much of our understanding about American Indians comes from the study of Indian tribes as static, rigidly bound, and identifiable entities based on the observable characteristics of physiognomy, language, religion, customs, behaviors, and material culture, a dated model not applicable to urban Indian communities. Even among reservation tribal communities where ceremonial traditions are still practiced and tribal languages are still spoken, most bear little resemblance to the static images “captured” by anthropologists. Moreover, since the 1970s, more than half of all American Indians live in cities. While many continue to maintain ties with tribal communities, others are second- or third-generation “urban” Indians whose identity evolves around pan-Indian activities and multitribal urban communities. Complicating this are individuals who, by virtue of being able to recall an Indian ancestor, are now identifying as American Indian.