Legislation_Legacy

An issue that is currently facing Native Americans and the government is fighting over Native American land. The connection is both parties want the same thing but can not come to an agreement about the issue. In the 1800s, Native Americans gave the government much of their land with a promise of staying on their land, allowing the government to manage their trust. The government is not upholding the promises. “The federal responsibility has the legal commitment made by the United States government to the Indian tribes where the Indian lands were ceded to the U.S. The commitment they made is codified in federal law, executive orders, judicial opinions, treaties, and the international doctrine. It can also be divided into three obligations: The protection of the Indian trust lands, protection of the tribal self-governance, and provision of basic social, medical and educational services for tribal members” (National Congress of American Indians Website, 2010). The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has done a study reporting lower funding for Native Americans critical and needed services, including the law enforcement, education and the health care than what there is for all of the other people not in the Indian race. Native Americans believe the government is being dishonest to them. Many tribes are making efforts to purchase the land that separates the reservation land they reside on. The Makah tribe in Washington is buying land that separates their land; purchasing this land will give them the opportunity to double the revenue generated yearly of timber, allowing them depend less on government agencies. References: Indian Country Today Website (2005).Retrieved from http://www.indiancountry.com National Congress of American Indians Website (2010).Retrieved from http://www.ncai.org