Important Native American Historical Dates
Important dates in Native American history
1868 Indians are denied the right to vote as a result of the 14th Amendment.
1887 Dawes Allotment Act, authorizes the break-up of Indian reservations into individual allotments usually of 160 acres, and the sale of "surplus" lands remaining after enrolled tribal members had received allotments (no provision for later generations)
1903 Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, the Supreme Court ruled that Lone Wolf, a Kiowa, could not obstruct the implementation of allotment on Kiowa land, regardless of Kiowa consent: the case established Congress' power to unilaterally break treaties. The Court declared the Indians to be "an ignorant and dependent race" that must be governed by the "Christian people" of the United States
1924 United States Indians given citizenship, although right to vote denied by several states; Utah the last to enfranchise Indians, in 1960, in state elections
1934 Wheeler-Howard (Indian Reorganization) Act, permitted tribes to organize and write constitutions for self-government, and directed the government to consolidate and conserve Indian lands, and encouraged education and economic plans for Indians
1960 Canada grants citizenship to Indians
1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, establishing policy to permit greater governmental and administrative powers to Indian tribes
1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, United States, protecting Indian tribes' interest in retaining custody of their children
1978 American Indian Freedom of Religion Act (P.L. 95-341), stated "American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiian . . . inherent right" to the free exercise of their traditional religions.
1987 Congress passes the Indian Gaming Act limiting tribes to gaming ventures allowed by states
1990 Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (Public Law 101-601), United States, requires museums and federal agencies to return human remains, funerary and sacred objects and objects of cultural
1868 Indians are denied the right to vote as a result of the 14th Amendment.
1887 Dawes Allotment Act, authorizes the break-up of Indian reservations into individual allotments usually of 160 acres, and the sale of "surplus" lands remaining after enrolled tribal members had received allotments (no provision for later generations)
1903 Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, the Supreme Court ruled that Lone Wolf, a Kiowa, could not obstruct the implementation of allotment on Kiowa land, regardless of Kiowa consent: the case established Congress' power to unilaterally break treaties. The Court declared the Indians to be "an ignorant and dependent race" that must be governed by the "Christian people" of the United States
1924 United States Indians given citizenship, although right to vote denied by several states; Utah the last to enfranchise Indians, in 1960, in state elections
1934 Wheeler-Howard (Indian Reorganization) Act, permitted tribes to organize and write constitutions for self-government, and directed the government to consolidate and conserve Indian lands, and encouraged education and economic plans for Indians
1960 Canada grants citizenship to Indians
1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, establishing policy to permit greater governmental and administrative powers to Indian tribes
1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, United States, protecting Indian tribes' interest in retaining custody of their children
1978 American Indian Freedom of Religion Act (P.L. 95-341), stated "American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiian . . . inherent right" to the free exercise of their traditional religions.
1987 Congress passes the Indian Gaming Act limiting tribes to gaming ventures allowed by states
1990 Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (Public Law 101-601), United States, requires museums and federal agencies to return human remains, funerary and sacred objects and objects of cultural