Introduction
The relationship between the Indian tribes and the US government has a rich and controversial history. The various laws and policies adopted to relocate Native Americans reflect injustice, hesitation, and sometimes cruelty. A summary of the main aspects, concepts, and topics regarding the issues mentioned above will be created in this essay. Despite some mitigating measures, most approaches and laws to Indigenous people were cruel and unfair.
Tribal Structures
One of the most critical factors in considering the features of the Indian Tribals is the study of their tribal structures. The main factor determining the species is the way of tracing kin relationships. For example, matrilineal assumes tracing through the mother, patrilineal assumes tracing through the father, and bilinear means tracing can be through the mother and father.
One of the structures of indigenous societies in North America was the Kingdoms, which were distributed along the Mississippi River. These kingdoms defined the hierarchy of society and granted privileges to individuals. Considering the current status, it is essential to note that the position of women is severely reduced. According to the Module 2 Study (n.d.), “Europeans did not like trading with women, a task in which they had traditionally participated” (p. 26). Hence, the current structure provides for other relationships in the society of tribals in the context of gender.
Federal Policies
After years of injustice towards indigenous tribes in America, the US government realized its past failures and began constructing particular policies and programs to help tribes. For example, according to Sachs, “the federal government since the 1970s began implementing a policy of self-determination for Indian people” (2011). Another example of current federal policies is the Ambassadors program, which has established a qualitative communication network between the US government and Native people (Sachs, 2011). This communication assumes a discussion of important issues and problems. Consequently, they helped to develop new federal policies and laws to ensure that tribes were afforded the same safe and equal rights as other Americans.
Major Concepts Associated with Tribal Sovereignty
Some specific steps were taken to restore justice and equal rights to Native people in the US. In particular, the concept of giving sovereignty to tribals was developed. The most efficient of them is the concept of Peter MacDonald, Navajo Nation Chairman, in 1970 (Sachs, 2011). According to Sachs, he “did a great deal to increase Navajo Nation tribal sovereignty and economic wellbeing” (2011). Notably, he gave this tribe an opportunity to control different aspects of life, such as education and other social aspects (Sachs, 2011). However, it is crucial to note that such straightforward actions had negative consequences, such as accusations of favoritism.
Major Concepts Associated with Federal Indian Policy and Law
The concepts of federal policies concerning the Indian Tribes reflect the history of the US government’s interaction with indigenous people. Initial federal Indian policies assumed a law of peaceful removals (Module 3 Introduction, n.d.). However, further developments of these policies have led to radical approaches regarding the Indian tribes.
Module 3 Introduction (n.d.) states, “Southern states wanted to extend over Indian lands and extinguish tribal governance in lands” (p. 6). However, in 1832, one of the federal policies provided for the Chickasaw lands east of the Mississippi in return for the land from which they were relocated (Module 3 Introduction, n.d.). It is just one example of federal Indian policies during their long history.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to stress that different policies have been applied to Native Americans without considering their opinions and the specific features of their culture. Consequently, it was not until later that the United States government decided to develop specific mitigations, such as providing land near the Mississippi River. After a detailed review of the tribal arrangements of the Native Americans, it was clear that they had their way of life, social hierarchy, and rules by which they lived. Moreover, among them were those who claimed their rights and created concepts that gave Indians the right to live independently.
References
Module 2 Study. [PowerPoint Presentation].
Module 3 Introduction to the current study. [PowerPoint Presentation].
Sachs, S. M. (2011). Remembering the traditional meaning and role of kinship in American Indian societies to overcome problems of favoritism in contemporary tribal government. Indigenous Policy Journal, 22(2), 1-12.