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THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2003

"Politics can, at times, amount to a funny business in Indian country. But I suppose the same can be said of city, county, state and federal politics in the rest of America.

The U.S. Department of the Interior had a lot to do with the state of affairs on the Indian reservations of America. In 1934 Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act and the establishment of tribal governments began.

Prior to that, many tribes still functioned under their traditional way of life. The United States had come up with a unique way of dealing with the Indians. It was known as "divide and rule." The conquering days had already passed by the turn of the century. Now it was time to rule under a colonial system long practiced by the British."

Get the Story:
Tim Giago: Indian Politics Has Greatly Evolved (The Yankton Press & Dakotan 7/17)

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