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Buy the Chief a Cadillac
Offered money by the U.S. government to abandon their million-acre reservation along with the rest of their tribe, three Native American brothers consider disparate goals including an entry into the world of white people, a new Cadillac, and an effort to keep the land. Winner of the 2005 Spur Award. Original.
- GenresFiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2003
11 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Rick Steber
95 books15 followersRick Steber, the author of more than 30 books with sales of more than a million copies, has received national acclaim for his writing. His numerous awards include the Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best Western Novel, Western Heritage Award, Benjamin Franklin Award, Mid-America Publishers Award, Oregon Library Association Award, Oregon Literary Arts Award, Independent Publishers Book Award, Indies Award for Excellence, and the USA Best Book Award. Three of his books have been optioned to movie production companies.
In addition to his writing, Rick is an engaging Western personality and has the unique ability to make his characters come alive as he tells a story. He has spoken at national and international conferences and visits schools where he talks to students about the importance of education, developing reading and writing skills, and impressing upon them the value of saving our history for future generations.
Rick has two sons, Seneca and Dusty, and lives near Prineville, Oregon. He writes in a cabin in the timbered foothills of the Ochoco Mountains.
In addition to his writing, Rick is an engaging Western personality and has the unique ability to make his characters come alive as he tells a story. He has spoken at national and international conferences and visits schools where he talks to students about the importance of education, developing reading and writing skills, and impressing upon them the value of saving our history for future generations.
Rick has two sons, Seneca and Dusty, and lives near Prineville, Oregon. He writes in a cabin in the timbered foothills of the Ochoco Mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 24, 2011
You know, this book had a lot of potential to provide insights to life on a reservation. It just didn't do it for me. The characters were under-developed and one dimentional (that includes the white ones, so it's not that I didn't "get" them). The writer hinted at a number of topics and contexts, but never took them far. For me, it was like going to a party where you know the names of everybody, but you don't know any of them well enough to start a conversation.
Story line was good, but unsupported.
Story line was good, but unsupported.
August 6, 2022
This novel is centered around the Klamath Tribes' "termination," in which they lost their tribal lands and federal recognition as a tribe in exchange for a monetary payout to each tribal member. The event is told from the viewpoint of a number of characters, both immediately after the event and many years later.
I hadn't heard of this bit of history before and had to look it up. "Termination" happened in 1954.
https://klamathtribes.org/history/
I cannot imagine the loss of one's heritage land and national identity. It's less hard to imagine the effect of a large cash payout on people who'd never had much cash at all. This book is a sympathetic look at that effect on the individual lives of the characters.
The High Desert Museum, just south of Bend, recently made the decision not to carry Rick Steber's books in their bookstore. The statement from the current executive director is "Rather than relating a historical perspective, the High Desert Museum will now focus on global climate and contemporary diversity." It's a loss for an award-winning writer with decades of experience in the High Desert. And it's a loss for the museum. With the museum relinquishing history, Rich Steber's books on the High Desert become that much more important. https://oregoncatalyst.com/60966-bill...
I hadn't heard of this bit of history before and had to look it up. "Termination" happened in 1954.
https://klamathtribes.org/history/
I cannot imagine the loss of one's heritage land and national identity. It's less hard to imagine the effect of a large cash payout on people who'd never had much cash at all. This book is a sympathetic look at that effect on the individual lives of the characters.
The High Desert Museum, just south of Bend, recently made the decision not to carry Rick Steber's books in their bookstore. The statement from the current executive director is "Rather than relating a historical perspective, the High Desert Museum will now focus on global climate and contemporary diversity." It's a loss for an award-winning writer with decades of experience in the High Desert. And it's a loss for the museum. With the museum relinquishing history, Rich Steber's books on the High Desert become that much more important. https://oregoncatalyst.com/60966-bill...
May 8, 2019
Goodness gracious, what an enlightening and depressing read. Far from horrible though, Buy the Chief a Cadillac shines a spotlight on the oft neglected truths of North American history: the terrifying robbery that is tribal termination.
You're likely not to know about it unless you've been raised with it or you have been specifically taught it in your college classes. Everybody should read this to understand how harmful the U.S. government's hypocrisy can be within their own borders! It captures how cruel life was for Natives in the late '50s to '60s, and it would be a serious mistake to think that it was done with a willing heart by the tribes. I was first attracted to the quirky title, but I was hurt by the darker meaning behind it.
Recommended reading for someone who likes serious narratives with a sardonic edge. Activists may like it too. There isn't much pussyfooting with this one, and it captures the Western blues well.
You're likely not to know about it unless you've been raised with it or you have been specifically taught it in your college classes. Everybody should read this to understand how harmful the U.S. government's hypocrisy can be within their own borders! It captures how cruel life was for Natives in the late '50s to '60s, and it would be a serious mistake to think that it was done with a willing heart by the tribes. I was first attracted to the quirky title, but I was hurt by the darker meaning behind it.
Recommended reading for someone who likes serious narratives with a sardonic edge. Activists may like it too. There isn't much pussyfooting with this one, and it captures the Western blues well.
March 2, 2024
This book was set in the area where I currently live, and I enjoyed the local and historical context. I've learned about termination, but this perspective added to my understanding. I was surprised by the number of white characters, but I guess it makes sense with a white author. The story of our racialized history really came through.
October 1, 2025
It was a good read, nothing exciting though. Just how Indians lived in and sold off their reservation to the government. I liked the people and this author describes people so well that I really can picture them.
He is a local Oregon author so I really would love to read all his books.
He is a local Oregon author so I really would love to read all his books.
July 12, 2019
Audio Very descriptive about life on Indian, depressing on how few made it, and historical of life of Indian tribes.
February 2, 2020
Well that was an interesting perspective on the situation. I didn't much like the writing style. I've heard first hand how community members have problems with the book and well yeah I can see why.
August 16, 2020
Author objectifies teenaged girls.
February 2, 2025
Set in 1961, this is the story of the termination of the Klamath Indian land and tribal status. I found the story sad and hard to read.
March 21, 2025
Although this is a work of fiction, it is an important work as it relates to the Indian Termination Act and how the US government cannot be trusted with treaties and contracts.
February 16, 2016
I have given this 5 stars but it was really very sad, with a redeeming ending....The "friendship" is between Pokey, Creek (half-brothers raised by Grandma) & Shasta.... Creek & Shasta come home to the rez from college because of the termination. Creek to claim his pay-off and Shasta to write a story about what "termination" will mean to the tribe & tribal tradition. When Creek & most of the tribe buy new cars and go on a drinking binge with their pay-off money...Pokey & Shasta renew their friendship and Shasta gets her story from Pokey & Grandma.
It is the fictionalized version about the actual "termination" of the Klamath/Chiloquin Indian Reservation & federal recognition of Tribal Status, which I read because a customer of mine told me it was about someone I knew.
The feds wanted the land...previously all the lumbar rights were owned by the Chiloquin Tribe in Oregon (where I have visited & made friends)....by the time the feds had finished the Natives became "regular" citizens, lost all titles to their land, lost all federal tribal benefits, lost all lumbar rights, their one time pay-out (most of whom never saw a penny of it due to lawyers, bankers & government bureaucracy) was wasted on booze & cars, and the rez died.
It's a well written story; some of the characters are miserable, most have redeeming qualities, some get what is coming to them, and others get lost in their own lives.
The ending is true to the life of (now passed) Chief Edison Chiloquin, who never "sold out" but fought the feds and won. It was so cool to recognize the grocery store, tribal land, and original traditional village I was fortunate to have visited. When I read the book I could actually see the town as it stands and the land Chief Edison worked so hard to save...I even remember him telling me about the sacred fire and his story. It's like "I Was There"!
It is the fictionalized version about the actual "termination" of the Klamath/Chiloquin Indian Reservation & federal recognition of Tribal Status, which I read because a customer of mine told me it was about someone I knew.
The feds wanted the land...previously all the lumbar rights were owned by the Chiloquin Tribe in Oregon (where I have visited & made friends)....by the time the feds had finished the Natives became "regular" citizens, lost all titles to their land, lost all federal tribal benefits, lost all lumbar rights, their one time pay-out (most of whom never saw a penny of it due to lawyers, bankers & government bureaucracy) was wasted on booze & cars, and the rez died.
It's a well written story; some of the characters are miserable, most have redeeming qualities, some get what is coming to them, and others get lost in their own lives.
The ending is true to the life of (now passed) Chief Edison Chiloquin, who never "sold out" but fought the feds and won. It was so cool to recognize the grocery store, tribal land, and original traditional village I was fortunate to have visited. When I read the book I could actually see the town as it stands and the land Chief Edison worked so hard to save...I even remember him telling me about the sacred fire and his story. It's like "I Was There"!
July 12, 2013
This book had a lot of potential, but it just fell a little short for me. I would say it's almost exactly a 2.5 star for me, "OK" but on the side of "like".
In terms of the strengths of the book, Steber's description of the animals, the land and the region of Klamath County were absolutely breathtaking. It was obvious to me that he had grown up loving the land and possesses a vast appreciation for the harsh beauty of the reservation. His description language is delicious and reads almost similar to poetry (beautiful cowboy poetry!). He paints a beautiful picture of the high desert/basin, and I can appreciate his love of the outdoors.
I have spent time with the Warm Springs Indians approximately 200 miles north of the Klamath Reservation, and I have to say his interpretation of the Indians, while oftentimes brutal is accurate. While I haven't lived on a reservation certainly, Steber illustrates the brutal life of a reservation Indian in a way which indicates he has experienced this first hand. I also loved the historical bits of the Klamath Indians smattered throughout (I almost would have liked more!)
However, overall I was disappointed with the novel. Steber's characters were a little flat (they had some spice but remained underdeveloped), the heroine was the weakest character and I thirsted for more in terms of backgrounds and history of virtually all of the characters (such as Dolly and Dallas). The plot was engaging, but overall was choppy and didn't really resolve itself in the end.
While the book started off strong, in the end I have to say I was disappointed. Not recommended, but it makes me want to learn more about reservation history because it is all fascinating. Too bad this local author fell a little bit too flat because the ideas could have manifested into something far greater.
In terms of the strengths of the book, Steber's description of the animals, the land and the region of Klamath County were absolutely breathtaking. It was obvious to me that he had grown up loving the land and possesses a vast appreciation for the harsh beauty of the reservation. His description language is delicious and reads almost similar to poetry (beautiful cowboy poetry!). He paints a beautiful picture of the high desert/basin, and I can appreciate his love of the outdoors.
I have spent time with the Warm Springs Indians approximately 200 miles north of the Klamath Reservation, and I have to say his interpretation of the Indians, while oftentimes brutal is accurate. While I haven't lived on a reservation certainly, Steber illustrates the brutal life of a reservation Indian in a way which indicates he has experienced this first hand. I also loved the historical bits of the Klamath Indians smattered throughout (I almost would have liked more!)
However, overall I was disappointed with the novel. Steber's characters were a little flat (they had some spice but remained underdeveloped), the heroine was the weakest character and I thirsted for more in terms of backgrounds and history of virtually all of the characters (such as Dolly and Dallas). The plot was engaging, but overall was choppy and didn't really resolve itself in the end.
While the book started off strong, in the end I have to say I was disappointed. Not recommended, but it makes me want to learn more about reservation history because it is all fascinating. Too bad this local author fell a little bit too flat because the ideas could have manifested into something far greater.
August 2, 2011
This is the last book I completed in 2010 and I definitely could have ended on a worse note. Even though I found the writing a little simplistic and choppy, I still enjoyed the read. The concept is an interesting one to me, especially as I have spent so many years of my life living in such close proximity to Indian reservations and interact with many an Indian in town "off the rez". It is pretty heavy-handed with the alcoholism, but the fact does remain that Native Americans are more prone to it biologically.
August 5, 2011
Entertaining up to the point of the first brutal, drunken act of cruelty which happens early in this story. I wouldn't have kept reading if assurances hadn't been forthcoming that the bad guy did finish last. Land, traditions, identity and individuality figure prominently in the fictionalized account of the Klamath people. Unfortunately there was more truth in this fiction than I would have chosen.
February 12, 2012
Even though Steber ranks this as fiction, one cannot stop the analysis of how much truth is in the story. We are constantly told there is a lot of alcoholism on reservation, but I can't help but compare it to contrived living situations we see - such as some retirement places. Steber also addresses the duplicity that is seen in government actions which is not a pleasant read. Steber's story may have some truth to it but it does not shed a life of brilliance on either side!
July 28, 2011
There is no quarreling with the sentiments the author communicates about the mistreatment of the Klamath Tribe, but as a work of fiction I found it a little disappointing in the end because of the use of a mystery writer's device that in the end turns out to be no mystery at all (three suspiciously coincidental deaths that turn out to be...just coincidental).
January 15, 2009
one of our "local" authors. Doesn't live here now but grew up in the town I live in when this was still a rezervation.
He is tried and true to Oregon History, the "real" story. He also has a definite quirky but it works way of writing. Maybe one of the last cowboy storytellers?
He is tried and true to Oregon History, the "real" story. He also has a definite quirky but it works way of writing. Maybe one of the last cowboy storytellers?
June 17, 2009
Having grown up with this as part of my own history, this book was amazing. Yes, it's fiction. Even Steber says "the book...does not exist." But what a fascinating "look" at what happened, and the effect it had.
September 30, 2009
If I had not grown up in Klamath I would have not liked this book at all. I didn't like the way it was written (the story line is too simplistic) although the content was pretty accurate as to how I remember the Chiloquin Indians' dismal situation & way of life during the 60's-70's.
October 19, 2013
To me this book seems like the adult version of the YA book, The Absolutely True Diary of Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I learned so much about reservation life by reading Alexie's semi-autobiographical book, and this one continues in the same vein.
Want to read
February 16, 2008not a light read about the Klamath Indians in the beginning of the 60's
January 16, 2010
Bittersweet look at The Rez, culture clash, and bad decisions. Spur Award winner.
June 22, 2010
Excellent historical fiction. Distressing but I imagine quite real.
June 5, 2016
Does a wonderful job of showing both sides of life in Southern Oregon as a Native American.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews