An “Indian agent” represents the US government in its dealings with individual tribes. Jackson often refers to tribal reservations as “agencies.”

Assimilation occurs when one people or community adopts the social mores of a more dominant group. In the book’s context, assimilation refers to Indigenous Americans adopting the habits and modes of thinking common among European-Americans. Jackson does not use this word, but she often refers to the general concept.

An administrative arm of the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs dates to 1824. As its name suggests, the Bureau of Indian Affairs oversees the implementation of all policies specific to Indigenous Americans and the US government’s system of reservations. Jackson quotes a number of Bureau officials.