Anpao is intended to encourage social sensitivity toward Native Americans, their unique imagination, and their values and world view. Highwater explains his intention in the novel's afterword: I believe that there are images and ideas which are uniquely Indian and remain uniquely Indian no matter what mannerisms are employed to present them. These Indian ideas are central to the stories in Anpao ... . I have presented these old tales neither as curiosities nor as naive fiction, but as an alternative vision of the world and as an alternative process of history.

Highwater succeeds admirably in his intentions. His depiction of Native Americans goes far to counter both negative and romantic stereotypes prevalent in American culture. Young people, particularly males, can easily identify with and learn from his hero, and ecologists, both young and old, will embrace the Native American world view.

Some readers might take offense, however...