The surviving record shows affection, mutual respect, humor, and genuine friendship in some of his relationships with museum staff and doctors.

He was not simply a silent prisoner being mechanically forced to perform.

But power was unequal.

The university controlled the institution in which he lived.

Researchers benefited professionally from access to him.

Visitors paid attention to the museum because he was there.

His personal history became scientific material.

His knowledge became collection material.

His body would eventually become scientific material too.

This is why the story cannot be reduced to either “anthropologists rescued Ishi” or “anthropologists imprisoned Ishi.”