HIS148 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Indian Claims Commission
Document Summary
Didn"t want to be seen like everyone else. They had been through more than everyone else. Were seen as original inhabitants of north america. A unique history in eyes of navajos. Wary state governments would show little interest in them as well. Tribes could sue the federal government for lost land. These claims a preliminary step in ending the federal government"s financial obligation to indian groups. Navajos testified before congress about urgent need for improved roads, schools, health care, and other concerns. Legislation was in keeping with the termination era. Designed to encourage the navajos to take charge of their own economic development. Tribe received 88 million over a 10 year period. Almost 25 million spent to construct schools. More directed toward improved reservation roads and highways. New and improved roads gave navajos greater choice. Development of industries on the reservations, a goal strongly encouraged by the federal government. Many communities, however, remained difficult to reach.
