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American Indian Law: Organizations

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Some of the organizations listed here approach the law from a tribal point of view, addressing tribal law and legal systems, or the effects of US law on tribes. Nevertheless, as resources for federal Indian law, these sites afford current awareness and links to other web-based resources. As always, pay heed to the currentness of the presented materials, particularly the legal texts.

American Indian Law Center, Inc. (AILC).
An Indian-operated non-profit public policy group, AILC works to prepare Native Americans to attend law school and provides consultation to tribes and other governments.

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
From the web site:

"The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities as provided by the Constitution of the United States, treaties, court decisions and Federal statutes. Within the government-to-government relationship, Indian Affairs provides services directly or through contracts, grants, or compacts to 566 Federally recognized tribes with a service population of about 1.9 million American Indian and Alaska Natives. While the role of Indian Affairs has changed significantly in the last three decades in response to a greater emphasis on Indian self-governance and self-determination, Tribes still look to Indian Affairs for a broad spectrum of services.The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) responsibility is the administration and management of 55.7 million acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives. There are 562 federal recognized tribal governments in the United States. Developing forestlands, leasing assets on these lands, directing agricultural programs, protecting water and land rights, developing and maintaining infrastructure and economic development are all part of the agency's responsibility...."

Indianz.com.
Based on the Winnebago Reservation in Nebraska and Washington, D.C., this site posts daily news items, many related to legal developments, including links to legal documents.

Library of Congress Indigenous Law Portal.
Open web online resources about various issues relating to North American indigenous peoples and their legal systems. Navigate geographically, e.g., from North America to California to resources relating to tribes within the state.

National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
The NCAI coordinates policy development among tribal governments in the US. The site features resolutions promulgated at NCAI semi-annual sessions, as well as links to numerous tribal, inter-tribal, and US governmental organizations.

National Indian Law Library (NILL).

"The National Indian Law Library (NILL) of the Native American Rights Fund is a law library devoted to federal Indian and tribal law. NILL maintains a unique and valuable collection of Indian law resources and assists people with their Indian law-related research needs."

Among the services provided free by NILL are current awareness Indian Law News Bulletins, which track US judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments affecting Native Americans.

Native American Rights Fund (NARF).
"Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide."

University of Saskatchewan, IPortal: Indigenous Studies Portal.
A portal to electronic resources for researchers in all aspects of Indigenous Studies. Contents include books, articles, theses, documents, photographs, archival resources, maps, web sites, and other documents.

US Senate Commmittee on Indian Affairs.

"The Committee has jurisdiction to study the unique problems of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples and to propose legislation to alleviate these difficulties. These issues include, but are not limited to, Indian education, economic development, land management, trust responsibilities, health care, and claims against the United States." (About the Committee: Summary.)

The web site tracks legislation referred to the Committee and maintains an archive of transcripts of hearings (for which there are also live broadcasts).

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