"Born on the Seneca Indian Reservation in New York State, Arthur Caswell Parker (1881-1955) was a prominent intellectual leader both within and outside tribal circles. Of mixed Iroquois, Seneca, and Anglican descent, Parker was also a controversial figure - recognized as an advocate for Indians but criticized for his assimilationist stance. In this exhaustively researched biography - the first book-length examination of Parker's life and career - Joy Porter explores complex issues of Indian identity that are as relevant today as in Parker's time."--BOOK JACKET.