American Indians and the law / N. Bruce Duthu

Object Details

Author

Duthu, N. Bruce

Contents

The dignity of tribal governments -- 1978 : a watershed year in Indian law -- Creeping constitutionalism from the temple -- Identifying the contours of Indian country -- Stewards of the natural world -- Revitalizing tribal economies -- Individual rights and tribal communal interests -- A question of institutional fit -- Avoiding mistakes of the past -- Conventions on tribal sovereignty

Summary

Indian tribes have a legal status unique among America's racial and ethnic groups: they are also sovereign governments that engage in governmental relations with Congress. The self-rule of Native tribes long predates the founding of the United States, and that peculiar status has led to legal and political disputes--with vast sums of money hanging in the balance. From cigarette taxes to control of environmental resources to gambling law, the history of American Indians and American law has been one of clashing values and sometimes uneasy compromise. In this account, Native American scholar N. Bruce Duthu explains the landmark cases in Indian law of the past two centuries and demonstrates their common thread throughout history, giving us an accessible entry point into a vital facet of Indian history.--From publisher description.

2008

Type

Books

Physical description

xxx, 270 p. ; 20 cm

Smithsonian Libraries

Topic

Federally recognized Indian tribes

Legal status, laws, etc

Politics and government

Record ID

siris_sil_899070

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0