The Establishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs

And the Consequences

C. L. Beard
18 min readNov 17, 2023
Photo by Cayetano Gil on Unsplash

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior, established on March 11, 1824. The BIA’s stated goal is to help American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians achieve self-determination.

The BIA has jurisdiction over all federally recognized Native American tribes within the United States and its territories. It manages their land holdings and other natural resources. It also provides social services to Native Americans such as education, health care and law enforcement protection.

The Dawes Act was an American law enacted in 1887 which aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society. The act was named after its sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts.

The Dawes Act was a part of the United States government’s attempts to integrate Native Americans into mainstream society by breaking up their large landholdings and encouraging them to adopt European-American farming techniques. The act also made it easier for Indians to buy land and allowed the President to appoint three commissioners who could decide how much of an Indian’s land would be sold at a price per acre that the federal government set.

The Dawes Act was an idealistic attempt to improve Native American’s lives, but it did not live up to the government’s expectations. One reason for this was that many Indians were not interested in becoming Europeans and were still holding on to their cultural beliefs. They were now forced to farm the land such as they had before because they lost most of their resources in land sales. The act also infuriated other tribes who considered it a violation of tribal sovereignty.

Sitting Bull was an influential Native American leader of the Sioux tribe. He led his people in their resistance to United States government policies. He was killed on December 15, 1890 by Indian police who were under orders from the U.S. government. .”The following day, while Sitting Bull was visiting a friend’s house on the edge of Standing Rock Agency in South Dakota, Indian police led by federal officers surrounded the house and shot him dead.”

Sitting Bull’s legacy is one of a great leader and warrior, but also one of a tragic victim of the clash between Native Americans and European settlers in North America. .While there is little written about the life of Sitting Bull, he was a leader of the Lakota Sioux and Hunkpapa band in the period leading up to and including the American Civil War. The band lived on open land in what is now South Dakota.

Sitting Bull’s father, Lame Deer, was from Crow Creek Reservation in Montana. In 1851, when Sitting Bull was ten years old, his family moved to a reservation near Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming. In 1868, Sitting Bull joined the Ghost Dancers, who were a religious group led by Wovoka. The Ghost Dance spread among the Lakota, leading to the Great Sioux War of 1876. After Custer’s defeat at Little Big Horn in 1876, Sitting Bull and his family returned to Montana with other members of his tribe. By 1877 he had settled on a reservation near Fort Peck in present-day Montana.Sitting Bull was captured by

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The massacre at Wounded Knee was a turning point in the history of Native Americans. It left more than 150 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children dead and had a huge impact on the lives of those who survived.Native Americans in North America are descended from diverse groups of people who were hunter-gatherers throughout most of their history. This is unlike most other indigenous peoples on Earth, whose ancestors were farmers living in villages with domesticated animals. The first

Wounded Knee was the site of one of the most horrific massacres in United States history. On December 29th, 1890, more than 150 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children were killed by members of the 7th Cavalry Regiment. The event is often referred to as “the last great battle between Indians and soldiers” because it was one of many battles fought between Native Americans and United States military forces during what became known as America’s Indian Wars. The Wounded Knee Massacre is considered one of the three most significant events in United States history, along with the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Civil War.

Native Americans have been living in North America for thousands of years and have gone through many different changes in their history. From the days of the Native American tribes to the time when Europeans came to America, the Native Americans have struggled with their identity. In the 19th century, they were displaced from their land and had to settle on reservations. They were also not granted citizenship until 1924, which was after World War I.

Native Americans are still fighting for recognition and equality today. The United States has a long way to go before it can call itself a country that is accepting of all its citizens.

The Indian veterans of World War I were granted citizenship in 1924. This was a huge step for the Indian people because they finally felt like they belonged in the United States.

The Indian veterans were granted citizenship by the United States Congress. This was because the Indian Citizenship Bill was passed on June 2, 1924. It granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in America that are not foreign-born.

This is a significant event in American history because it shows how America has changed its policy towards Native Americans and their rights within America as a whole.

Among other things, the report found that Native Americans were discriminated against in almost every area of social and economic life. , including employment, education and housing.In the report’s findings, it takes note of the “colonial logic” of government policies that often treated Indians as inferior to whites. It also notes that this was an “inevitable consequence” of settler colonialism in which Indian nations were appropriated by European colonial powers without regard for Indian sovereignty and self-determination.It also notes how racial discrimination and violence against indigenous peoples had persisted in the United States ever since colonization (see Racial violence in U.S. history).

In the report it took note of the “colonial logic” of government policies that often treated Indians as inferior to whites.The report states that the United States was built on an idea, a myth, a long-held assumption that Native Americans were inferior and could not be acknowledged “in any way”The myth is that America came to be settled by Europeans because they were free-thinking, democratic people who wanted freedom for themselves and others around the worldAs a result of the myth, Indian tribes were attacked, enslaved or displaced and their lands seized without consideration for their rights.

The myth “is not supported by the facts, which shows how the United States lacked democracy and freedom in its origins and was founded on a brutal conquest”. The report also notes that persistent myths and stereotypes about Native Americans have been used to justify violence against them. The myth has been used over and over in the United States to justify violence against Native Americans. It is not supported by the facts, which show how the United States lacked democracy and freedom in its origins and was founded on a brutal conquest.In this case, “the facts” support that a key part of American history was un-democratic, but there are many other narratives about this story that could be included in an essay from a different perspective.

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This act of the Indian Reorganization Act reformed policies for Native American tribes in the US. It mandated that the US create a Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and it placed Native Americans under an agency for economic development and social welfare. .

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was a landmark law in the policy of the United States to Native Americans. It replaced the Dawes Act, which had provided for the forced assimilation and allotment of Indian land that had been passed by Congress in 1887. The act ended the forced assimilation policy and recognized self-governance for Indians on reservations as defined by tribal members. The law prohibited forced relocation or citizenship for tribes, which was granted later with passage of Public Law 87–110 in 1956. The act created the Indian Reorganization Act, which allowed Indian tribes to reorganize and manage their own affairs while preserving tribal self-government. The law also provided for greater tribal control over land and natural resources, including mineral rights. It was intended to accelerate the assimilation process of Indians by dismantling any remaining special protections for them, as well as destroying their collective culture.

This act is significant because it is the first time that Native American individuals have been recognized as citizens by the United States. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified on July 28, 1868. This amendment changed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 by extending citizenship to all persons born in the United States and ensuring equal protection under law for all citizens. This act, which also gave the U.S. government power to register Native Americans, was in effect until 1948 when it was repealed by Congress. This decision allowed all states to follow their own rules and regulations for who is considered an American Indian Citizen. .The history of Native Americans in the United States began centuries ago.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus famously landed in America and saw a native man tending to a woman’s garden. Columbus later called the natives “Indians”. In 1607, the Pilgrims landed on Cape Cod and met Native Americans who had lived there for thousands of years.The Europeans brought with them diseases that wiped out many American Indian tribes and communities within their first few decades of contact. When these diseases hit the Native Americans hard, their population was already in decline and their cultures were not as advanced.In 1492, Christopher Columbus famously landed in America and saw a native man tending to a woman’s garden. Columbus later called the natives “Indians”. In 1607, the Pilgrims landed on Cape Cod and met Native Americans who had lived there for thousands of years.The Europeans brought with them diseases that wiped out many American Indian tribes and communities within their first few decades of contact

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Native American tribes are not allowed to govern themselves. The government has terminated more than 500 tribes, which includes the Cherokee Nation, the Choctaw Nation, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Tribes that were terminated no longer exist. and are considered extinct. The government has a list of more than 100 tribes that it considers to be potentially terminated.This is not a law from the United States Government, but rather an opinion regarding the current status of Native American tribes.

The Indian termination policy that was adopted by Congress in 1953 consisted of two goals: (1) eliminating political and economic institutions that were sustained by a tribal organization and (2) terminating relations with Native Americans as a race. .[3] The policy was implemented with the support of President Eisenhower in 1953, who believed that this would help to end the “Indian problem”.[4]The Indian termination policy was not only extremely controversial amongst Native Americans but it also raised questions about political and economic institutions and relations between Indians and whites. As for relationships between Indians, the policy has had a detrimental effect on Indian-white relations, as many people in Congress viewed Natives as a race rather than an ethnic

The US Army Corps of Engineers construction of the Lake Oahe reservoir in South Dakota resulted in a 100,000-acre reduction in native American land. This project is not isolated; rather it is just one example how America treats Native Americans with little regard for their history and culture. There are countless other projects that have had similar impacts on native populations without proper consultation or compensation. .The United States has a history of violating treaties with native populations, displacing them from their lands and taking their resources. Treaties were made between the US government and native populations for mutual benefit in order to maintain peace, trade, and freedom of movement. The US government promised protection to native peoples as well as the continuation of their cultures. However, this promise has not been fulfilled.

The US’ treatment towards Native Americans has caused many conflicts in the past including: forced relocation resulting in numerous deaths, family separation, forced cultural assimilation and the inability to practice religion. In the 1800s, Native Americans were made to relocate during the Indian Removal in order to make room for white settlers. Often times this relocation process involved a forced march known as the Trail of Tears which resulted in numerous deaths.In 1872, Native Americans lost their right to vote and refused because they didn’t want their people voting for anything that would take away their rights from them or interfere with their culture.

This amendment was created to make a law that would allow Native Americans to have their own government and be self-governing. amendment 17The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever sources derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.This amendment was created to make a law that would allow people to have a government tax system with no restrictions on where the taxes came from or how they were collected.

The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 amended Public Law 280. This law states that tribes can have their own government and be self-governed. in the same way that states of the Union can. The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 also allowed for Indians to take part in American elections, with federal aid.The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act amended Public Law 280 in 1978. This law outlined ways that tribes could have better housing, schools, health care, and other services — without interference from state governments.

Natives Americans were often treated poorly and as savage people. Politicians argued that they were unable to handle their affairs, so the government had to take control of them. President Nixon’s speech to Congress is an example of this type of thinking.

“This is a time for us to recognize the past errors and injustices we committed against the Native American people.” President Nixon condemns past federal policies and argues that natives should be allowed self-determination, which he calls autonomy.

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President Nixon, in a special speech to Congress on Indian Affairs, denounced past federal policies and formally ended the termination policy which aimed to abolish the tribes.

Nixon’s Special Message on Indian Affairs speech was an important moment in the history of Native Americans in America. His specific changes to federal policies regarding Native Americans would have long-lasting impacts on their communities and culture.

The President addressed Congress stating that tribal groups should be given more responsibility over their land, over their education, and over any social services they might need. .The President asked for more responsibility in all areas of life, and it seems that the Native American tribes are going to get what they need.

The Santa Clara v. Martinez case was a landmark decision in the Supreme Court that has great implications for the relationship between Native American tribes and the United States.

The Santa Clara v. Martinez case on June 11, 1978 was a landmark case in the Supreme Court that had great implications on how America treated Native Americans, which has been stained by a history of mistrust and exploitation. The case dealt with whether or not two California Rancherias classified as “wards of the federal government” were allowed to have off-reservation hunting and fishing rights in violation of state law.

The court decided unanimously that these tribes are not required to obey state law because they are still technically under federal jurisdiction and can use these rights as leverage for treaty negotiations with the state government.

Every religion or spiritual practice has their own rights and ways they are not able to be practiced freely. The American Indians have faced a long history of oppression in America, but had some relief in the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.

The passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978 was a turning point for Native Americans. Within just three years following its passage, nearly half of all native nations had passed their own religious freedom laws.

This act is important because it allows Native Americans to practice their religion without restrictions from the government and other law enforcement agencies. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act allows Native Americans to practice their religion without restrictions from the government and other law enforcement agencies. .The Religious Freedom Restoration Act allows Native Americans to practice their religion without restrictions from the government and other law enforcement agencies.

The Indian Mineral Development Act states that only American citizens and members of federally recognised tribes can legally prospect, mine and process minerals on Indian lands. With this in mind, it becomes apparent that America treats Native Americans as a “special case” in regards to their natural resources.

American companies have been making huge profits from mining and exporting minerals to China. However, this has left many Indian reservations impoverished. This is because America’s mineral policy discriminates against Native Americans in respect to their natural resources.In most American states, un-mined lands are open for prospecting and exploration by anyone who has the money and the resources. These include private companies such as Texaco (oil company) or ExxonMobil (oil company) and other companies. However, Indian reservations have been forced to mine their natural resources on their own land.

The U.S. Constitution guarantees Native American communities the right to control their own territories and natural resources; but when it comes to mining and exploitation of minerals, America’s federal laws do not include this right in Native American territories.In addition, because some Indian reservations are poorer than others (and in some cases the poverty is so bad that they don’t even have roads or electricity), they are not able to protect the rights of their members in the same way that larger communities may be.

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In the United States, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is a federally recognized tribe. It is made up of descendants of indigenous peoples who lived in Florida before contact with Europeans. One important issue that was addressed in this case was whether this tribe’s reservation had been terminated or if it remained intact.

In Seminole Tribe v. Butterworth , the Supreme Court ruled that while Congress could regulate tribal land, they could not destroy tribal sovereignty. Congress cannot unilaterally terminate the Indians from their reservation land without their consent. The court established that tribes were separate entities from the federal government and had its own form of sovereignty over its lands and people within those lands. This meant that there must be a voluntary agreement between two sovereigns for Congress to take over any lands belonging to Indian Tribes through Congressional Acts..

The law is an Indian Tribes’ rights protection measure to ensure the integrity of Native American languages.

The U.S. federal government has taken steps to preserve and protect historic linguistic resources by authorizing the Native American Languages Act of 1990 (NALA). NALA provides funding for tribal governments and institutions, state educational agencies, and other groups to develop, maintain, and strengthen Native American language programs.

Some important aspects of the act are:

-It promotes education about Native American language

-It provides for preservation of languages through a grant program

-It establishes a National Language Committee to oversee these efforts

Executive Order on Tribal Universities is an order issued by President Trump in September, 2017. This order granted more autonomy and flexibility to tribal institutions of higher education. .Donald Trump issued an executive order on September 27, 2017 that restructured tribal colleges. The order gives the Secretary of Education wide discretion to waive any statutory, regulatory, or other legal restrictions in order to ensure that these institutions can function as effectively as possible. It also calls for a review of current federal policy with respect to tribal colleges and universities every three years.The executive order states: “The United States is committed to ensuring access by all American students seeking a college education

This executive order was put in place to prevent native Americans from losing all their rights and culture.

Native Americans are constantly under attack by the government of America. The government is continuously trying to remove their culture and force them into mainstream society. It’s not just a historical thing, it’s still happening today with the higher rates of drug abuse and alcoholism in Native American communities. And in some cases, they are even forced to give up their children because they believe that the state is more capable than they are at raising them.

The Executive Order on Tribal Colleges and Universities was signed by President Bill Clinton on November 29th 1996 in an effort to increase the educational opportunities for Native Americans and to establish a closer relationship between tribal colleges, universities, and the Federal Government. The Executive Order states that “the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Education shall govern tribal colleges and universities for purposes of this Order.” The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall govern tribal health programs including hospitals, clinics, health centers, family planning facilities, etc. .The Executive Order on Tribal Colleges and Universities is most important for the Secretary of Education. The Secretary is able to set standards for a tribal college or university, and can provide specific support to the institution. They also work with each agency to ensure that they are providing equal opportunities to Native Americans pursuing higher education anywhere in the United States. This Executive Order sets up a close relationship between tribal colleges and universities, the Federal Government, and individual states where they are located.The Executive Order on

The Nez Perce tribe is one of the largest tribes in the nation. They are also one of the few tribes that live on a reservation. However, they were not allowed to return to their historic homeland in Oregon until 121 years after they were exiled from there. The tribe was forced to move just before they could harvest their crops and had to walk 400 miles with little food or water.

This section will discuss how America treated Native Americans during this time period and why it took so long for the Nez Perce tribe to be able to return home. The treatment of Native Americans during this time period was not easy. They were taken from their homes and forced to live on reservations. The government viewed Native Americans as a threat to the U.S., but in reality, it was their own people who were the threat because they did not follow the guidelines set forth by the government. Throughout America’s history, Native Americans have been persecuted for things such as having “too many” children, using a lot of land for hunting and gathering

The National Museum of the American Indian is a museum that is dedicated to preserving and telling the story of the Native American people. It was established in 1989 and has been open to the public since 2004. The museum is located on the National Mall in Washington D.C., close to other historical buildings such as the Smithsonian Institution, Lincoln Memorial, and United States Capitol.

The museum has seven permanent exhibition halls that are dedicated to different aspects of Native American history, culture, art, and language. One of these halls is called “Haudenosaunee Hall” which focuses on Iroquois culture specifically. The Haudenosaunee Hall contains exhibits such as an Iroquois longhouse replica and a traditional village scene depicting life before European contact with these tribes.

Another hall called “Amerindian Journey” is focused on interpreting Native American history through objects from all over North America including artifacts from various tribes such as Hopi pottery or Navajo weaving

The Native American Apology Resolution was signed by President Obama on the 19th of November in 2009. The president apologized to the native Americans for the injustices that were committed against them and their culture.

President Obama stated, “The history of the United States is in part a history of Native people. We have not always been just or kind to you.” He also said, “We must work together to restore tribal sovereignty and build a better future for all our children.”

President Obama also stated, “We must work together to restore tribal sovereignty and build a better future for all our children.”The history of the United States is in part a history of Native people. We have not always been just or kind to you.We must work together to restore tribal sovereignty and build a better future for all our children.

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The American Indians have been mistreated by the United States government for many years. Especially in the early days of America, when they were used as slaves and forced to live on reservations. of America, when they were used as slaves and forced to live on reservations, they were mistreated and placed into a state of poverty and desperation. When the United States government found new ways to make money, such as through mining and mining companies, their greediness worsened. Mining resources eventually caused the pollution of many Indian lands in North America.The American Indians have been mistreated by the United States government for many years. Especially in the early days

The new law is an attempt to make amends for past injustices. It will pay $3.4 billion to American Indians and $1.2 billion to black farmers who were discriminated against by the Department of Agriculture from 1972–1997. .”For the first time in history, an American Indian will get a clear title to their land,” said Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, who introduced the bill. “This is going to build self-sufficiency and prosperity for generations.”The new law says that the $3.4 billion payments will be made over 25 years for up to 5 million acres of trust land in perpetuity or until the land is no longer needed for trust purposes.

This new law will help Native Americans get a fair share of government money and make up for some of the injustices that they have faced in the past. ,” said Senator Tom Udall.The law would require that the US Department of Education report to Congress on the number and types of educational programs in which Native Americans are underrepresented, according to a press release.“For too long, Native American students have been systematically underrepresented when it comes to education programs designed by federal agencies,” said Senator Heinrich. “This bill will help make up for that injustice by requiring these federal agencies to accurately identify education.

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C. L. Beard
C. L. Beard

Written by C. L. Beard

I am a writer living on the Salish Sea. I also publish my own AI newsletter https://brainscriblr.beehiiv.com/, come check it out.

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