Native American Reservations

The Indian Removal Act

The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830, authorizing the president to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indigenous lands within existing state borders. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the relocation policy.

The Trail of Tears

Due to this Act, during the fall and winter of 1838 and 1839, the government wanted to take over fertile land in the South, but it was settled by Indigenous People. As such, Cherokees were forcibly moved west by the United States government. Approximately 4,000 Cherokees died on this forced march, which became known as the "Trail of Tears."

Reservations

This Act led to the creation of Reservations. Basically, Indigenous lands were taken, but other lands were "reserved" for them to relocate. The main goals of Indian reservations were to bring Native Americans under U.S. government control, minimize conflict between natives and settlers, and encourage Native Americans to take on the ways of the white settlers.

Photojournalism is the process of storytelling using the medium of photography as your main story telling device. Before we look further into modern Native American Reservations, check out these images from an an Apsáalooke (Crow) photojournalist.

Photojournalism

​Now that you've seen some photos of daily life on a Reservation as well as traditional celebrations/ceremonies, let's look into some of the realities and difficulties that Native Americans have faced on these Reservations. Once you've read the following slides, watch the video on The Cheyenne River Reservation.

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• In the past, feuding tribes were often thrown together and people who were once hunters struggled to become farmers. Starvation was common, and living in close quarters hastened the spread of diseases brought by white settlers.

• Native Americans were encouraged or forced to wear non-traditional clothes and learn to read and write English, sew, and raise livestock. Missionaries attempted to convert them to Christianity and give up their spiritual beliefs.​

• Reservations still exist across the United States and fall under the umbrella of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The tribes on each reservation are sovereign and not subject to most federal laws.

• The BIA is responsible for improving their quality of life for modern Indigenous tribes, providing them with economic opportunities and improving their assets, which the BIA holds in trust.

• Despite their efforts, living conditions on reservations aren’t ideal and are often compared to that of a third-world country. Housing is overcrowded and often below standards, and many people on the reservations are stuck in a cycle of poverty.