Indian Relations with the US, 1850-present: a tragedy of ethnocentrism

"Americans can never leave anything wild; everything must become an artifact"



The Reservation System

Peace Treaties and the Policy of Removal

California: Failed Treaties and Military Reservations

Helen Hunt Jackson and the Mission Indians

The Reform Movement and Assimilation

Tribalism: 1871 Amendment to Revoke Tribal Sovereignty

Culture: The Indian Boarding School System (1878-1930)

Sovereignty & Land: The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887

Community: The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924

Roosevelt's "New Deal" and World War II

John Collier, Commissioner of Indian Affairs

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934

John Marshall's Principle of "Domestic Dependent Nations"

The Indian Conservation Corps

Post-War Backlash

Making Urban Indians

House Concurrent Resolution 108 (1953), otherwise known as "Termination"

The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968

Litigations : the case of Blue Lake and Taos Pueblo

Contemporary Dilemmas

Leasing Timber and Mineral Rights

Allowing Dumping Grounds (the case of EPA)



High-Stakes Gambling

To Be, or Not to Be, "Indian"

What Has This Course Been About?



"It is an examination of American culture, past & present, through the looking glass of indigenous people."

"Who are we that we have treated the indigenous people of this continent in these ways?"

"Who are we that we have treated the land and its resources of this continent in these ways?"

"Basically, it's all about world views!"


The Indian Reorganization Act



(1) Provided for Tribal Governments and Tribal Corporations on Reservations

(2) Provided Training Programs for Reservation-Based Self-Improvement in Education, Public Health, Law Enforcement, & Resource Management

(3) Terminated and Reversed the Dawes Act, Allowing Return of Allotted Lands to Tribal Administration

(4) Established a Court of Indian Affairs

As passed, in 1934, the 4th provision was removed entirely, return of allotted lands was regulated and impeded strongly, and general application was heavily restricted by numerous regulations and qualifications.