A Wild West show could have all the Cossacks, cowgirls, lariats, and bucking broncos there were and yet not be successful. Much as audiences flocked to see these attractions, there was one group that people wanted to see more than any other: American Indians. Nearly every show of any size had at least a few Indians who participated in the show in some way, whether demonstrating riding feats, playing the role of a bloodthirsty warrior, or simply adding exotic, Western flavor to Eastern audiences. And the larger shows had many Native Americans —sometimes up to half the total cast.

The Indian experience, however, was not the same as the experiences of the cowboys, sharpshooters, or even the foreign recruits. Indians came to shows in very different ways from whites. They were not treated by audiences or management in precisely the same way as their white...