6. The Reservation System and Survival
The establishment of reservations marked a new era of control over Indigenous lands, often limiting movement and autonomy. Yet, within these confines, tribes found ways to sustain their governance structures and cultural practices, using reservations as sanctuaries for community and tradition. Despite immense pressures, these spaces became strongholds of identity and self-determination. For a historical overview, visit Smithsonian Magazine: A Brief History of U.S. Reservation Policy.
