self determination

What happened

Self-determination is the federal policy of letting Native nations direct their own governments and the federal programs that serve them. It replaced termination, which aimed to end the special federal relationship with tribes.

On July 8, 1970, President Richard Nixon sent Congress a Special Message on Indian Affairs, with a section titled "Self-Determination Without Termination." He said the relationship between the federal government and Indian communities had swung between two harsh extremes. He cited House Concurrent Resolution 108 of August 1953, in which Congress declared termination the long-range goal, and called forced termination wrong.

Nixon gave reasons. He said the special relationship rests on solemn obligations entered into by the United States, through treaties and formal and informal agreements. He said the practical results of termination had been clearly harmful where it had been tried. He added that the threat of termination had a blighting effect on tribal progress.

Congress wrote the policy into law in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Pub. L. 93-638, dated January 4, 1975. Its policy section recognizes the obligation of the United States to respond to the strong expression of the Indian people for self-determination by assuring maximum Indian participation in the direction of federal services. It commits to an orderly transition from federal domination of programs to effective Indian participation in planning, conduct and administration.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error