First Peoples of North America: November 2013

I searched the website of the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. This website was extremely enlightening and informative. It provides in-depth answers to frequently asked questions about the history and the current state of the Native American tribes. For instance, it discusses the term sovereignty and how it is applied to Native Americans; in addition, it clarifies the present relationship between the tribes and United States.

I had several questions that were answered by this website. For example, when was the last year that the Native Americans and the United States government signed a peace treaty? What are the powers of the tribal self-government?

The last treaty took place in the year 1871. From the first treaty up until 1871, the Senate ratified 370 treaties![i] Even if a tribe does not have a treaty with the United States, its members may still receive services from federal programs, if qualified.[ii] In the year 1924, American Indians and Alaska Natives were granted citizenship; in 1965, their voting rights were strengthened.[iii]

(This is a picture of Native Americans voting in the 1960’s).[iv]

Currently, there are 566 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. The United States government acknowledges that federally recognized tribes have certain powers of self-government – tribal sovereignty – and may receive particular benefits and programs as a result of their relationship with the US government.[v] The association linking federally recognized tribes and the United States is between sovereigns; in other words, between a government and another government.[vi] Historically, tribes received federally recognition status through treaties, acts of Congress, and court decisions.[vii] However, if a tribe was “terminated” by Congress, then only Congress has the authority to restore the tribe’s recognition status (rather than via treaties and court decisions). Tribal sovereignty guarantees that any decisions about the tribes with regard to their property and other important matters are made with their involvement and approval.[viii]

The website also discusses the history of the BIA, which is a federal agency that preserves the relationship between federally recognized tribes and the United States government. In addition, it encourages and supports tribal self-determination. It was in the year 1824 that the BIA was established. The name Bureau of Indian Affairs was introduced in 1947. Since 1824 there have been 45 Commissioners of Indian Affairs; only six of them were Native Americans.[ix] The BIA has done much to promote a great relationship between the sovereign tribes and the United States government. For instance, the BIA ensured that the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 was ratified: this act granted the Native Americans U.S. citizenship and the right to vote.[x] In addition, after the passage of landmark legislation, such as the Indian Self-Determination and the Education Assistance Act of 1975, the BIA embodied trust between the Native Americans tribes and the U.S. government.[xi]

(This is Benjamin Reifel who was a commissioner from 1976-1977. His mother was from the Brule Lakota tribe).[xii]

I am entirely satisfied that I read the contents of the website U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. I learned a lot of new information in regards to the past and current status of the Native Americans, as well as the relationship between the tribes and the United States government. It was also fantastic to read the history of the BIA.