The term refers to the protection and recognition of the basic human rights of Indigenous peoples in North America. It includes efforts to address historical injustices, preserve cultural heritage, and promote self-determination.
Related terms
Treaty Rights: These are legally binding agreements between Native American tribes and the U.S. government that guarantee certain rights and benefits to tribal nations.
Indian Removal Act: This legislation, signed into law by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, forcibly relocated thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands to designated reservations.
Dawes Act: Also known as the General Allotment Act of 1887, this law aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society by dividing reservation lands into individual allotments for tribal members.