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Indian Law Timeline

This timeline is a work in progress and more material will be added. Feel free to use what you find here now. Come back later to find more.

1778

Treaty between the United States and the Delaware Indian Tribe (Lenni Lenape) – September 17, 1778: 7 Stat. 13 (1778).; The first treaty negotiated between the United States and Indian Tribes.

1789

Constitution: Article 1: Commerce with the Indian Tribes

1790

Indian Trade and Intercourse Act – July 22, 1790: 1 Stat. 137 (1790).; First law to regulate trade between Indians and colonists.

1802

Act to Regulation of Trade and Intercourse with the Indian Tribes and to Preserve Peace on the Frontier – March 30, 1802: 2 Stat. 139 (1802).; Sale of liquor to Indians prohibited.

1810

Fletcher v. Peck: 10 U.S. 87 (1810).

1817

Indian Country Crimes Act – March 3, 1817: 3 Stat. 383.

1823

Johnson v. McIntosh: 21 U.S. 543 (1823).

1830

Indian Removal Act – May 28, 1830: 4 Stat. 411

1831

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia: 30 U.S. 1, 8 L.Ed. 25 (1831).

1832

Worcester v. Georgia: 31 U.S. 515, 8 L.Ed. 483 (1832)

1834

Indian Intercourse Act of 1834 – June 30, 1834: 4 Stat. 729.

1850

Donation Land Act – September 27, 1850: 9 Stat. 496.

1854

Kansas Nebraska Act – May 30, 1854: 10 Stat. 277.

1862

Homestead Act – May 20, 1862: 12 Stat. 392.
Pacific Railroad Act – July 1, 1862: 12 Stat. 489.
Morril Act of 1862 – July 2, 1862: 12 Stat. 503.

1868

Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment – July 20, 1868: 15 Stat. 706.; Indians denied the vote.

1871

Indian Appropriations Act – March 3, 1871: 16 Stat. 544.; The United States ends the negotiation of Indian treaties.

1877

Desert Land Act – March 3, 1877: 19 Stat. 377.

1881

United States v. McBratney – October 1881: 104 U.S. 621, 24 L.Ed. 869 (1881).

1883

Ex parte Crow Dog – December 7, 1883: 109 U.S. 556, 3. S.Ct. 396, 27 L.Ed. 1030 (1883).

1884

Elk v. Wilkins – November 3, 1884: 112 U.S. 94 (1884).

1885

Indian Major Crimes Act – March 3, 1885: ch. 341, § 9; 23 Stat. 362, 385 (1885).

1886

United States v. Kagama – May 10, 1886: 118 U.S.375, 6 S.Ct. 1109, 30 L.Ed. 228 (1886).

1887

General Allotment Act (Dawes Act) – February 8, 1887: 24 Stat. 388.

1896

Talton v. Mayes – May 18, 1896: 163 U.S. 376, 16 S.Ct. 986, 41 L.Ed. 196 (1896).

1898

Curtis Act (Indians in Indian Territory) – June 28, 1898: 30 Stat. 495.

1902

Reclamation Act (Irrigation of Arid Lands) – June 17, 1902: 32 Stat. 388.

1903

Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock – January 5, 1903: 187 U.S. 553, 23 S.Ct. 216, 47 L.Ed. 299 (1903).

1905

United States v. Winans – May 15, 1905: 198 U.S. 371, 25 S.Ct. 662, 49 L.Ed. 1089 (1905).

1906

Osage Allotment Act – June 28, 1906: 34 Stat. 539.
Curtis Act (Five Civilized Tribes) – April 26, 1906: 34 Stat. 137.
Burke Act – May 8, 1906: 34 Stat. 182.
Antiquities Act of 1906 – June 8, 1906: 34 Stat. 225.

1908

Winters v. United States – January 6, 1908: 207 U.S. 564, 28 S.Ct. 207, 52 L.Ed. 340.

1913

United States v. Sandoval – October 20, 1913: 231 U.S. 28 (1913).

1916

United States v. Nice – June 12, 1916: 241 U.S. 591 (1916).

1921

Snyder Act (Indian Affairs Bureau) – November 2, 1921: 42 Stat. 208.

1934

Johnson-O'Malley Act – April 16, 1934: 48 Stat. 596.
Indian Reorganization Act – June 18, 1934: ch. 576, 48 Stat. 984 (1934).

1935

United States v. Creek Nation – April 29, 1935: 295 U.S. 103 (1935).

1936

Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act – June 26, 1936: 49 Stat. 1967.

1946

Indian Claims Commission Act – August 13, 1946: 60 Stat. 1049.

1948

Indian Country Crimes Act (General Crime Act) – June 25, 1948: 18 U.S.C. § 1151 was revised, codified, and enacted into positive law by the Act of June 25, 1948.; ch. 645, 62 Stat. 683, 757 (1948).; "Indian Country" defined.

1949

Act of May 24, 1949 – May 24, 1949: ch. 139 § 25, 63 Stat. 89, 94 (1949).; Amended Indian Country Crimes Act.

1950

Navajo-Hopi Rehabilitation Act – April 19, 1950: 64 Stat. 44.

1955

Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. United States – February 7, 1955: 348 U.S. 272, 75 S.Ct. 313, 99 L.Ed. 314 (1955).

1956

Indian Vocational Training Act – August 3, 1956: 70 Stat. 986.

1959

Williams v. Lee: 358 U.S. 217, 79 S.Ct. 269, 3 L.Ed.2d 251 (1959)

1963

Arizona v. California (I) – March 9, 1964: 376 U.S. 340, 84 S.Ct. 755, 11 L.Ed.2d 757 (1964).

1964

Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 – August 20, 1964: 70 Stat. 508.

1968

Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 – April 11, 1968: Pub. L. No. 90-284, Title II, 82 Stat. 77 (1968).
Menominee Tribe v. United States – May 27, 1968: 391 U.S. 404, 88 S.Ct. 1705, 20 L.Ed.2d 697 (1968).

1970

Choctaw Nation v. Oklahoma – April 27, 1970: 397 U.S. 620 (1970).

1972

Indian Education Act – June 23, 1972: 86 Stat. 334.

1973

McClanahan v. Arizona State Tax Commission – March 27, 1973: 411 U.S. 164, 93 S.Ct. 1257, 36 L.Ed2d 129 (1973).
Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 (CETA) – December 28, 1973: 87 Stat. 839.

1974

Morton v. Ruiz – February 20, 1974: 415 U.S. 199, 94 S.Ct. 1055, 39 L.Ed.2d 270 (1974)
Indian Financing Act of 1974 – April 12, 1974: Pub. L. No. 93-262, 88 Stat. 77 (1974).
Morton v. Mancari – June 17, 1974: 417 U.S. 535, 94 S.Ct. 2474, 41 L.Ed.2d 290 (1974)
Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974 – December 22, 1974: 88 Stat. 1712.

1975

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act – January 4, 1975: 88 Stat. 2203.
United States v. Mazurie – January 21, 1975: 419 U.S. 544 (1975).
DeCoteau v. District Court – March 3, 1975: 420 U.S. 425, 95 S.Ct. 1082, 43 L.Ed.2d 300 (1975).

1976

Colorado River Water Conservation District v. United States – March 24, 1976: 424 U.S. 800 (1976).
Indian Health Care Improvement Act – September 30, 1976: 90 Stat. 1400.

1978

Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe – March 6, 1978: 435 U.S. 191, 98 S.Ct. 1001, 55 L.Ed.2d 209 (1978).
United States v. Wheeler – March 22, 1978: 435 U.S. 313, 98 S.Ct. 1079, 55 L.Ed.2d 303 (1978).
Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez – May 15, 1978: 436 U.S. 49, 98 S.Ct. 1670, 56 L.Ed.2d 106 (1978).
American Indian Religious Freedom Act – August 11, 1978: 92 Stat. 469.
Indian Child Welfare Act – November 8, 1978: 92 Stat. 3069.

1979

Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 – October 31, 1979: 93 Stat. 721.

1980

White Mountain Apache Tribe v. Bracker – June 27, 1980: 358 U.S. 217, 79 S.Ct. 269, 3 L.Ed.2d 251 (1980).
United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians – June 30, 1980: 448 U.S. 371 (1980).
Navajo and Hopi Relocation Amendments Act of 1980 – July 8, 1980: 94 Stat. 929.
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act – December 2, 1980: 94 Stat. 2371.

1981

Montana v. United States – March 24, 1981: 450 U.S. 544, 101 S.Ct. 1245, 67 L.Ed.2d 493 (1981).

1983

Indian Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act of 1982 – January 14, 1983: 96 Stat. 2607.
Arizona v. California (II) – March 30, 1983: 460 U.S. 605 (1983).
Arizona v. San Carlos Apache Tribe – July 1, 1983: 463 U.S. 545, 103 S.Ct. 3201, 77 L.Ed.2d 837 (1983).

1987

California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians – February 25, 1987: 480 U.S. 202, 107 S.Ct. 1083, 94 L.ed.2d 244 (1987).

1988

Lying v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association – April 19, 1988: 485 U.S. 439, 108 S.Ct.1319, 99 Led.2d 534 (1988).
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Amendments of 1988 – October 5, 1988: 102 Stat. 2285.
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act – October 17, 1988: 102 Stat. 2467.
Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation Amendments of 1988 – November 16, 1988: 102 Stat. 3929.

1989

Brendale V. Confederated Tribes and Bands of Yakima Indian Nation – June 29, 1989: 492 U.S. 408, 109 S.Ct. 2994, 106 L.Ed.2d 343 (1989).
National Museum of the American Indian Act – November 28, 1989: 103 Stat. 1336

1990

Employment Division v. Smith – April 17, 1990: 494 U.S. 872, 110 S.Ct. 1595, 108 L.Ed.2d 876 (1990).
Duro v. Reina – May 29, 1990: 495 U.S. 676, 110 S.Ct. 2053, 109 L.Ed.2d 693 (1990)
Native American Languages Act – October 30, 1990: 104 Stat. 1153.
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act – November 16, 1990: 104 Stat. 3048.
Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 – November 29, 1990: 104 Stat. 4662.
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Amendments of 1990 – November 29, 1990: 104 Stat. 4665.

1991

Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Citizen Band Potawatomi Indian Tribe – February 26, 1991: 498 U.S. 505 (1991).

1992

Native American Languages Act of 1992 – October 26, 1992: 106 Stat. 3434.

1994

American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments of 1994 – October 6, 1994: 108 Stat. 3125.

1996

Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida – March 27, 1996: 517 U.S. 44, 116 S.Ct. 1114, 134 L.Ed.2d 252 (1996).
Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996 – September 26, 1996: 110 Stat. 3649.
Executive Order 13007 – May 24, 1996: Indian Sacred Sites

1997

Strate v. A-1 Contractors – April 28, 1997: 520 U.S. 438, 117 S.Ct. 1404, 137 L.Ed.2d 661 (1997)
Idaho v. Coeur D’Alene Tribe of Idaho – June 23, 1997: 521 U.S. 261, 117 S.Ct. 2028, 138 L.Ed.2d 438 (1997)

1998

State of Alaska v. Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government – February 25, 1998: 522 U.S. 520, 118 S.Ct. 948, 140 L.Ed.2d 30 (1998)
Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma v. Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. – May 28, 1998: 523 U.S. 751, 118 S.Ct. 1700, 140 L.Ed.2d 981 (1998)

1999

Cobell v. Babbitt – February 22, 1999: 91 F.Supp.2d 1 (D.D.C. 1999)

2000

Arizona v. California (III) – June 19, 2000: 530 U.S. 392 (2000).

2001

Native American Education Improvement Act of 2001 (No Indian Child Left Behind Act) – January 8, 2002: 115 Stat. 2007.
C & L Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizen Band Potawatomi Indian Tribe of Oklahoma – April 30, 2001: 532 U.S. 411, 121 S.Ct. 1589, 149 L.Ed.2d 623 (2001)
Nevada v. Hicks – June 25, 2001: 533 U.S. 353, 121 S.Ct. 2304, 150 L.Ed.2d 398 (2001)

2004

American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004 – October 27, 2004: 118 Stat. 1773
United States v. Lara - April 19, 2004: 541 U.S. 193, 124 S.Ct. 1628, 158 L.Ed.2d 420 (2004)

2005

Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma v. Leavitt - March 1, 2005: 543 U.S. 631, 125 S.Ct. 1172, 161 L.Ed.2d 66 (2005)
City of Sherrill, N.Y. v. Oneida Indian Nation of New York – March 29, 2005: 544 U.S. 197, 125 S.Ct. 1478, 161 L.Ed.2d 386 (2005)

2006

Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006 – December 14, 2006: 120 Stat. 2705.
Allen v. Cherokee Nation Tribal Council – March 7, 2006: 9 Okla. Trib. 255 (2006)
Pueblo of Isleta Settlement and Natural Resources Restoration Act of 2006 – December 1, 2006: 120 Stat. 2666

2007

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – September 13, 2007

2008

Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008 – October 15, 2008
Plains Commerce Bank v. Long Family & Cattle Co., Inc - June 25, 2008: 554 U.S. 316, 128 S.Ct. 2709, 171 L.Ed.2d 457 (2008)

2009

Carcieri v. Salazar – February 24, 2009: 555 U.S. 379, 129 S.Ct. 1058, 172 L.Ed.2d 791 (2009)
United States v. Navajo Nation – April 6, 2009: 556 U.S. 287, 129 S.Ct. 1547, 173 L.Ed.2d 429 (2009)
Cobell v. Salazar Class Action Settlement Agreement – December 7, 2009

2010

Indian Arts and Crafts Act Amendments of 2010 – July 29, 2010: 124 Stat. 2258
Claims Resolution Act of 2010 regarding the Cobell settlement - December 8, 2010: 124 Stat. 3064
Announcement of the United States support for the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – December 16, 2010

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