This is the story of how these peaceable and prosperous people were oppressed and persecuted, misunderstood, and badgered beyond endurance  and almost beyond honor, yet avoided war until fateful forces pushed them into it, is disclosed in sources made available to McWhorter by his Indian collaborators.

It is the Nez Perce war of 1877 which forms the major portion of the book, and without a doubt here is the most exhaustive and thorough examination of the dramatic struggle, the last great Indian war on this continent.

Companion volume to author's other book "Yellow Wolf."