Reclaiming self-determination from the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975

Abstract

This paper examines the way the term “self-determination” is used in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. Its main thesis is that the Act does not in fact offer tribal governments self-determination, but instead reaffirms old power configurations that go back to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

Keywords:

• Indigenous
• Native American
• American Indian
• sovereignty
• self-determination
• Indian Trust

Notes

1. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. § 6319 (2008), Title VII, Part A, Sec. 7101.