Stuff You Should Know – Native American Reservations

Intro

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, the hosts provide a broad overview of Native American or American Indian reservations. They discuss the history of reservations, their purpose, and the impact they have had on Native American communities.

Main Takeaways

History of Reservations

• The reservation system is proof of the century-long process of taking land from Native Americans.
• The Trail of Tears forced Native Americans westward and squeezed them into smaller and smaller spaces, leading to the creation of reservations.
• Treaties between tribes and states can lead to state-recognized reservations, but many treaties were broken.
• The Indian Appropriations Act of 1851 created a federal system of recognizing and moving Native Americans onto reservations, with the goal of assimilating them into American culture.
• The Dawes Act of 1887 attempted to assimilate Native Americans by giving them plots of land, but many were displaced and could not farm the land.
• The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 allowed tribes to repurchase their lands, but termination policies in the 1950s and 60s encouraged Native Americans to assimilate into urban areas.
• The American Indian Movement (AIM) developed alongside the civil rights movement to fight against termination policies and successfully advocated for the Indian Self Determination and Education Act of 1975.

Purpose and Sovereignty of Reservations

• Reservations exist as a way of removing Native Americans from their traditional lands and taking that land away.
• Reservations are considered sovereign nations and provide a place for Native Americans to keep their culture alive.
• States have almost no jurisdiction over reservations, as recognized by the Supreme Court ruling in Magert versus Oklahoma in 2020.
• The land held in trust by the US government protects tribes from state laws and taxes.
• Non-native people can live on reservations and some are majority non-native.
• Some tribes have their own courts, while others use the five regional courts of Indian offenses.
• Tribes may have their own law enforcement agencies or use the Bureau of Indian Affairs Police.

Current Challenges and Issues

• Reservation life today is marked by poverty, lack of resources, and limited access to basic necessities.
• Homelessness, overcrowding, and high rates of drug and alcohol abuse are major issues on reservations.
• Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is one of the poorest places in the US, with a high unemployment rate and limited access to resources.
• Preservation of Native American languages and cultures is crucial for the survival of their communities.
• The political climate has had a significant impact on Native American communities, with different administrations providing varying levels of support and resources.

Summary

History of Reservations

The reservation system in the United States is a result of the century-long process of taking land from Native Americans. Forced westward by events like the Trail of Tears, Native Americans were squeezed into smaller and smaller spaces, leading to the creation of reservations. Treaties between tribes and states were meant to establish state-recognized reservations, but many of these treaties were broken. The Indian Appropriations Act of 1851 and the Dawes Act of 1887 attempted to assimilate Native Americans into American culture, but often resulted in displacement and loss of land. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 allowed tribes to repurchase their lands, but termination policies in the 1950s and 60s encouraged Native Americans to assimilate into urban areas. The American Indian Movement (AIM) fought against termination policies and advocated for the Indian Self Determination and Education Act of 1975, which recognized and supported Native American tribes, ending the era of forced assimilation and termination.

Purpose and Sovereignty of Reservations

Reservations exist as a way of removing Native Americans from their traditional lands and taking that land away. However, reservations are also considered sovereign nations and provide a place for Native Americans to keep their culture alive. States have almost no jurisdiction over reservations, as recognized by a Supreme Court ruling in 2020. The land held in trust by the US government protects tribes from state laws and taxes. Reservations have their own courts and law enforcement agencies, varying depending on the tribe’s needs and culture.

Current Challenges and Issues

Reservation life today is marked by poverty, lack of resources, and limited access to basic necessities. Homelessness, overcrowding, and high rates of drug and alcohol abuse are major issues on reservations. Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, for example, faces extreme poverty and limited access to resources. Preservation of Native American languages and cultures is crucial for the survival of their communities, and efforts are being made to revitalize and promote these aspects. The political climate has had a significant impact on Native American communities, with different administrations providing varying levels of support and resources.

Conclusion

The history and current state of Native American reservations in the United States reflect a complex and often challenging reality. While reservations were initially created as a means of removing Native Americans from their traditional lands, they now serve as sovereign nations where Native Americans can preserve their culture. However, reservations face numerous challenges, including poverty, limited resources, and the need for cultural preservation. It is important for society to recognize and address these issues to ensure the well-being and cultural survival of Native American communities.