Reservation

Definition

A reservation is a designated area of land that is set aside by the federal government for the use and occupation of Native American tribes. This concept is crucial in understanding the relationship between Native American tribes and federal authority, as reservations serve as the legal framework for tribal governance and land use.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Reservations were established through treaties between Native American tribes and the federal government, often under duress or coercion.
2. The General Allotment Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting individual plots of land while reducing the overall size of reservations.
3. Many reservations are located in remote areas with limited access to resources, contributing to socioeconomic challenges for tribes.
4. Reservations have legal status under federal law, which provides tribes with certain rights and powers over their land and governance.
5. The creation of reservations often involved the removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands, leading to historical trauma and ongoing struggles for tribal sovereignty.

Review Questions

• How do reservations impact the governance and legal status of Native American tribes?
  • Reservations play a critical role in the governance and legal status of Native American tribes by establishing boundaries within which tribes exercise their sovereignty. This sovereignty allows tribes to enact laws, enforce regulations, and manage resources independently from state governments. Additionally, the legal recognition of reservations enables tribes to engage with federal programs and funding opportunities that support their communities.
• Discuss the implications of the General Allotment Act on the land tenure of Native American tribes and their reservations.
  • The General Allotment Act had profound implications for Native American tribes, as it aimed to break up communal landholdings on reservations by allotting individual plots to tribal members. This policy led to significant loss of tribal land, as unallotted lands were often sold or transferred to non-Native individuals. The fragmentation of tribal lands undermined traditional practices and community structures, creating long-lasting economic and social challenges for many tribes.
• Evaluate the ongoing challenges faced by Native American reservations today in terms of economic development and self-governance.
  • Native American reservations continue to face numerous challenges related to economic development and self-governance. Many reservations struggle with high unemployment rates, limited access to quality education, and inadequate infrastructure, which hampers growth opportunities. Additionally, while tribal sovereignty provides a framework for self-governance, it is often complicated by federal regulations and state jurisdiction issues. These factors create a complex landscape where tribes must navigate both external pressures and internal needs to achieve sustainable development while maintaining their cultural identity.

Related terms

Tribal Sovereignty: The inherent authority of Indigenous tribes to govern themselves and manage their affairs, including land use and governance, separate from state and federal governments.

Allotment:

The process by which tribal lands were divided into individual parcels for Native American families under the General Allotment Act, leading to a loss of communal land.

Trust Land:

Land held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of a Native American tribe or individual, providing certain protections against state taxation and seizure.