This timeline shows the policies that have been passed throughout the years where the USA goes back and forth with trying to win the favor of Native Americans or by trying to hide their racism with policies. The treaties and sovereignty played a big role on native americans losing their lands because the government took control of it and gave it to non native americans. Many tribes fought to keep their lands but in the end, lost their battle and that battle continues to exist involving the government.
When they were forced out of their homes to move to urban areas, native americans had a hard time settling in since they had no help from the government whatsoever. They were given jobs that dint pay well and lacked proper training. Many lost their culture since they were moved to a new location where they eventually lost their culture and to this day are having a hard time finding their culture again. Force removal also hurt the environment since most of the land that was once part of the native Americans, is now used for industrial purposes that hurt the animals and nature. The least the government can do now is give back the land that they once claimed and make sure the land has enough resources the Native Americans need in order to survive.
The timeline shows both the progress and setbacks that the government has done regarding their complicated relationship with native americans. All of these policies and events have eventually affected the newer generations of native americans by passing on the trauma they endured and losing their identity. Some U.S presidents have given speeches about apologizing to the Native Americans but that apology doesn’t undo the damage that was already caused in the past and to this day, native americans continue to face problems with their rights, racism and cultural identity. The government keeps going back and forth with all of these policies and don’t try to change their views which is extremely problematic because how else is the government supposed to learn from its mistakes if they don’t even bother to try and see it from a different point of view. There are many actions the government can take that can help native americans and strengthen their relationship with each other such as addressing land rights. Restore the lands that were stolen from them and give them back and also make sure that the native americans have resources that can help them live such as food, water, health services, and minerals. The government can also uphold sovereignty and let tribes self govern themselves.
I believe the government is capable of treating native americans with respect if they put in the effort. While they can’t undo the damage they cause, they can improve the conditions for the native americans and slow down passing generational trauma because even though these problems happened many years ago, they are still passed down and native americans continue to suffer from it.
1: https://library.law.howard.edu/civilrightshistory/indigenous/treaty
2: https://www.britannica.com/event/Trail-of-Tears
3: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/dawes-act
4: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-indian-citizenship-act
5: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/indian-reorganization-act-signed-into-law-fdr
6: https://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/indian-claims-commission
7: https://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia/termination
8: https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/indian-relocation.html
9: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title25/chapter15&edition=prelim