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On October 15, 1964 Billy Mills became the only American to win an Olympic Gold Medal for the 10,000 meters. It was but one notable triumph in sports by a Native American. Yet, unlike Millss achievement, most significant contributions from Native Americans have gone unheralded. From individual athletes, teams, and events, it is clear that the Vanishing Americans are not vanishingbut they are sadly overlooked.The Native American Identity in Sports Creating and Preserving a Culture not only includes, but goes beyond the great achievements of Billy Mills to note numerous other instances of Native American accomplishment and impact on sports. This collection of essays examines how sport has contributed to shaping and expressing Native American identityfrom the attempt of the old Indian Schools to Americanize Native Americans through sport to the Indian mascot controversy and what it says about the broader public view of Native Americans.