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“No Indian nation shall be recognized as an independent nation” - U.S. Congress Living History America edited by Erik Bruun & Jay Crosby Treaty signing by William T. Sherman and the Sioux at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Photographed by Alexander Gardner, 1868. http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/pictures/images/indians-030a.gif By 1871 Congress inserted a clause in an appropriations bill wiping out the government’s obligation to treat Native American tribes as sovereign nations. The effect of this was to give the government the ability to negate promises made in past treaties with Native American nations. This helped clear the way for Congress to interfere in the internal affairs of Native American tribes and to impose federal laws, regulations and programs on them without their consultation and often against their will. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the following sums be, and they are hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying the current and contingent expense of the Indian department, and fulfilling treaty stipulations with the various Indian tribes…. For insurance and transportation of goods for the Yankons, one thousand five hundred dollars: Provided, That hereafter no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of the United States shall be acknowledged or recognized as an independent nation, tribe, or power with whom the United States may contract by treaty: Provided further, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to invalidate or impair the obligation of any treaty heretofore lawfully made and ratified with any such Indian nation or tribe…