Native American land rights

Definition

Native American land rights refer to the legal and moral claims of indigenous peoples in the United States to their ancestral lands. These rights encompass issues such as sovereignty, treaty obligations, and the protection of cultural heritage.

Related terms

Indian Removal Act: This law passed in 1830 allowed for the forced relocation of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States.

Dawes Act: Passed in 1887, this act aimed at assimilating Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments.

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): A federal agency established to manage relations between the U.S. government and Native American tribes.