Some background.
On my recent trip I met a native of Spain who helped me immensely upon my arrival in Madrid. During our layover we talked about a lot of stuff, and one of the things he brought up was something along the lines of ‘But I thought there weren’t any Indians anymore’, or words to that effect.
I know quite a bit about the subject; living in MN it kind of surrounds you. But a really good book that a native of Spain would enjoy and understand? No clue.
So…digame, por favor 
Is there a particular Indian tribe of interest to you? Indian history in general is far too broad and rich for a particular book to do it real justice. Cherokee history alone, for example, could fill volumes.
History from the Indians point of view…
A very well written book that, if you have any sensibilities at all, will piss you off big time. I know it did me.
seems that you are asking about the recent history of the Indians and not the Wounded Knee stuff. I am sure that you can get books about the recent history of certain tribes, ie Cherokee. You can tell him about the Casinos, smokeshops, Jim Thorpe, reservations,…
An interesting topic: Did the government do the Indians any favors by putting them on reservations instead of assimilating them into society? compare the fate of the freed slaves verses the contained Indian tribes.
Yeah, Lib, I know…that’s why I’m having problems finding something. As I’m in MN something pertaining to either the Dakotah or Ojibwe Nations would be most appropriate, although not necessary.
Upon preview, justinh pretty much gave you my response, Reeder - although Wounded Knee is an amazing book, I’m looking for something more contemporary.
And, justinh…if you can find me a title that deals with the topic you just brought up, please let me know - I think that’s exactly what I’m looking for!
chique,
go to great debates. I just started a thread on this and I am sure someone will come up with a lot of information.
Native Heritage: Personal Accounts by American Indians 1790 to the Present
Edited by Arlene Hirschfelder
I like this book because it contains personal narratives from individuals from many different tribes, regions, and from various periods in American history. Each essay is fairly short, so it would be easy for someone to pick and choose what they are the most interested in, at least for a first reading. I would recommend this to someone like your Spanish friend, because it ranges from personal recollections of Apache life in the early 19th century to essays about representations of Native Americans in the media in the 1980s.
The government didn’t do native americans any favors at all.
My personal favorite is Black Elk Speaks. A wonderful work which I am only just beginning to fully comprehend.
Beyond that, what do I have here on my bookshelf…?
Wild Justice, by Lieder and Page. A nice work which describes both the Chiricahua Apache Tribe’s twenty-three years as prisoners-of-war in the aftermath of Geronimo’s surrender, and the legal work of the Indian Claims Commission through the 1970s.
The Invasion of America, by Francis Jennings. A famous work of what some would call revisionist history which examines the colonization of New England and the wars and politics which the colonists pursued against the Indians. Interestingly, Jennings starts off in scholarly but sarcastic fashion, then halfway through the book simply drops his objectivity and concludes, “these colonists were assholes, and I’m not gonna defend them anymore.” His scholarship is suspect at times, but his wit is always sharp.
Without Reservation, by Jeff Benedict. An uninformed pile of tripe written specifically to trash the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. Without question one of the worst pieces of shit I’ve ever had to read, my copy is flagged from front to back with colored tabs which show historical, legal, and factual errors. In addition to claiming his own shoddy work is evidence that the Mashantuckets are a “fake” Indian tribe, this S.O.B. Benedict is parlaying this racist, inaccurate screed into a bid for Congress. I’ll pay you to not read this book. (And no, I don’t work for the Mashantuckets.)
I have read a number of those books mentioned above, but found that my personal favorite is The Long Death by Ralph K. Andrist.
It predominately focuses on the Plains Indians, but not in such a “best seller” style of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
I agree with much of Sofa King’s read on Wild Justice and Without Reservation although I was not as taken with Invasion of America. It seemed too editorialized for me. I think that was my criticism of Bury My Heart… too. While I agree with the final conclusions, I prefer to draw them rather than have them handed to me.
I too like Black Elk Speaks.
TV
Oh, just thought of another one. On the Rez by Ian Frasier. It’s not a general history, it’s a very specific look at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He’s a very good writer, and is successful in showing both the good and the bad aspects of life on the reservation. This might be a good choice if your friend is particularly interested in the current state of things.
Another author I would recommend is Sherman Alexie, who writes fiction. He does an excellent job of illustrating how today’s Native Americans have a foot in both the traditional Indian world and also in the mainstream American landscape. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight In Heaven is his short story collection, and Reservation Blues, a novel, is also excellent.
Okay, I realize the OP asked for general history, and so far, the three books I suggested are not general history, but they’re all very absorbing reads. Mea culpa!
Thanks much for your suggestions, folks Will check out all of the titles mentioned…except Without Reservation 
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse; and McGaughlin’e books on the Cherokees, if you want the historical detail presented nicely.