Download “No Indian nation shall be recognized as an independent nation”

“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…