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The aim of this study is to demonstrate how the publication of books in Swedish about Native Americans for children and young people developed and changed between 1890 and 2008. Translations into Swedish of such books from 1860 onwards are commented on. The terms "Native American", "Indian" and "Indigenous" are discussed. Postcolonial theory forms the basis of an examination of the means by which the American Indian peoples were presented with regard to language, identity, and opposition to colonization.

The first chapter comprises a summary of Native American history and literature. Chapter Two deals with books about Native Americans in Sweden during the period 1860‒1965, while Chapter Three continues the study of such books from 1966 to 1985. The fourth chapter is devoted entirely to the author Stig Ericson and his books for juveniles, and aims to present an in-depth analysis of Swedish books about Native Americans in the period when he was writing. Chapter Five deals with such books published in Sweden during 1986‒2008.

 Widespread publication of traditional books about Native Americans, with confrontation between American Indians and Whites as their major theme, continued until the mid-1960s. Subsequently, there was a shift in narrative perspective in favour of the Native American view, while the books in general became more documentary and ideological in nature. White people were presented as villains; Native Americans became the victims of progress. Post-1985 only a few books of this type were published, and readers turned to other genres.