Universities still debate the ethics of historical collections.

Tribes still pursue repatriation.

Archives still decide which recordings should be public.

Publishers still use century-old Native photographs to attract audiences.

Readers still encounter phrases such as “vanished tribe” and “last Indian” without being told who caused the disappearance.

The choices made in retelling Ishi therefore matter.

His life can be used to repeat an old American fantasy.

Or it can be used to dismantle it.

The fantasy says a primitive man walked out of the wilderness after his people mysteriously vanished.

The history says a Yahi survivor emerged after decades of hiding from the violence that had devastated his community.