State and Local Relations (Richard Pendleton)

This chapter is about the state and local relations between the government and the Indians. Indians are U.S. citizens and are supposed to be provided with education, health, and public welfare but the government has broken this law. In the 1950’s, the federal policy wanted to stop the responsibilities of the Indians, which Minnesota went against the federal policy and started programs that helped the Indians’ needs; A few of the state Indian programs are: better education, supplemental state aide, and state support. Thanks to the Indian Affairs Council, the Indians actually have protection over themselves, for an example, the Council “has the power to make legislative recommendations administer programs, establish Indian advisory councils to state agencies, investigate and protect Indian burial sites, and act as an intermediary in Indian-state government questions, problems, or conflicts.” Indians had state support but not completely when it comes to jobs. Indians are apart of many positions in the work force but the positions that the governments employ the Indians are lower paid. Another situation that happened with the Indians is that the policymakers tired to go against the tribal-state Indian Gaming Compacts by trying to negotiate with the Indians to start sponsored gaming but it never passed. The relations with local communities were tough towards the Indians; they weren’t allowed to vote since the communities did not want them to be able to be apart of the city office, but it was take to court and it was overruled. Ever since casinos started business, they have provided many incentives to the surrounding communities such as hotels, businesses, treatment centers, etc. The Indians have gone a long way to get to where they are today but even after all the treaties and laws that have been passed, the Indians still are not treated 100% fairly.