A Current Issue Between Native Americans and the Federal Government

One of the most important issues today between the Native Americans and the federal government would be the fight for land and sufficient social, medical and educational services for tribal members.

In the 1800's the Native Americans ceded most of their land to the federal government in exchange for the promise that they could remain on reservation land and have their trust upheld. The federal government has been lax in their responsibilities thus far. The National Congress of American Indians recently published an article on this subject.

The federal trust responsibility is the legal commitment made by the U.S. government to Indian tribes when Indian lands were ceded to the United States. This commitment is codified in treaties, federal law, executive orders, judicial opinions, and international doctrine. It can be divided into three general obligations: protection if Indian trust lands: protection of tribal self-governance; and provision of basic social, medical, and educational services for tribal members. These promises notwithstanding, the U.S. government has consistently failed to follow through with appropriations to match these fundamental obligations. (National Congress of, 2005)

In a study by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights it was reported that there was disproportionately lower funding for critical Indian services, including law enforcement, health care, and education than there is for all other populations of people. (National Congress of, 2005) This in turn, has rightfully angered the American Indians who uphold honesty as something sacred in their belief system. The American Indians do not believe that the government has been honest in their dealings with them.