4. Land Rights and Dispossession
Federal policies, notably the Dawes Act of 1887, led to the loss of millions of acres from Native nations. The act divided communal lands into individual allotments, with surplus lands sold to non-Native settlers, resulting in a significant reduction of tribal territories. This dispossession disrupted traditional lifestyles and eroded sovereignty. Ongoing disputes over reservation boundaries and land use continue to arise when federal law prioritizes non-Native interests, such as mining or pipeline projects, over tribal lands. Learn more
