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The First Reservation
United States established the first reservation for Native Americans -
Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson that authorized the president to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the relocation policy. -
US Recognizes Tribes as Sovereign
The United States recognizes Native American tribes as sovereign Nations and congress has the power to regulate commerce with Indian tribes, as they do with other foreign nations. It was affirmed by the US Supreme Court, which held that states are excluded from regulating or taxing Indian country, because this is an infringement on Indigenous sovereignty. In other words, states had no authority over tribes -
Trail of Tears
During the fall and winter of, the Cherokees were forcibly moved west by the United States government. Approximately 4,000 Cherokees died on this forced march. -
Indian Religious Crimes Code
Banned Indigenous spiritual practices such as the Sun Dance. Religious prohibitions were done in part to “civilize savages” and assimilate indigenous people into American culture. (Continued to the 1930s) -
Major Crimes Act
Tribes no longer have the authority to prosecute offenders of major crimes on Native American land. -
Indian Reorganization Act
Provided a direct reversal of previous policies and promoted the retention of land and cultural distinctiveness. -
Relocation and Termination
Federal program designed to move Native people from reservations to cities. It took Native Americans from their poverty-stricken, isolated reservations and promoted assimilation. Many Native people ended up in the slum areas, had few skills, and could only find low-wage, insecure jobs. Termination occurred in the 1960s where it was the legal abolition of the tribes and their reservations. Under this policy, Native Americans would be legally, socially, and economically integrated into mainstream -
Indian Health Service
Federal government transferred responsibility for Native Americans health from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the US Public Health Service, thereby creating HIS. It serves 1.5 million Native people in 35 different states. Their mission is to provide services and improve the health of Native Americans. -
The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
Allowed for tribes and tribal consortia to take over administration of federal programs. Under this act, tribes can assume management of health care programs from the Indian Health Service. -
Indian Child Welfare Act
Seeks to keep American Indian Children with American Indian families. It was passed in response to the alarmingly high number of Indian children being removed from their homes by both public and private agencies. The intent of ICWA was to "protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families. -
Tribal Self-Governance Act
Offers tribes the option of administering other federal programs -
Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement
The Grand chief of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs publicly disclosed an experience of sexual and physical abuse in the residential schools and it prompted other disclosures and court challenges on the abuse that occurred within these schools. Therefore a settle agreement was made. -
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:
Reinstated and made permanent the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. It established direct payments from Medicare, Medicaid, and other third-party insurers. The IHCIA established a national policy to deliver health service with a goal of improving healthcare delivered by the Indian Health Service thus improving the health status of American Indian people.
