Baffled by the stereotypes presented by Hollywood and much historical fiction, many other Americans find the contemporary American Indian an enigma. Compounding their confusion is the highly publicized struggle of the contemporary Indian for self-determination, lost land, cultural preservation, and fundamental human rights--a struggle dramatized both by public acts of protest and by precedent-setting legal actions. More and more, the battles of American Indians are fought--and won--in the political arena and the courts.American Indians, American Justice explores the complexities of the present Indian situation, particularly with regard to legal and political rights. It is the first book to present an overview of federal Indian law in language readably accessible to the layperson. Remarkably comprehensive, it is destined to become a standard sourcebook for all concerned with the plight of the contemporary Indian.Beginning with an examination of the historical relationship of Indians and the courts, the authors describe how tribal courts developed and operate today, and how they relate to federal and state governments. They define such key legal concepts as tribal sovereignty and Indian Country. By comparing and contrasting the workings of Indian and non-Indian legal institutions, the authors illustrate how Indian tribes have adapted their customs, values, and institutions to the demands of the modern world. Describing the activities of attorneys and Indian advocates in asserting and defending Indian rights, they identify the difficulties typically faced by Indians in the criminal and civil legal arenas and explore the public policy and legal rights of Indians as regards citizenship, voting rights, religious freedom, and basic governmental services.

Introduction-

1. American Indians in Historical Perspective-- Discovery, Conquest, and Treaty-Making (1532-1828)- Removal and Relocation (1828-1887)- Allotment and Assimilation (1887-1928)- Reorganization and Self-Government (1928-1945)- Termination (1945-1961)- Self-Determination (1961-Present)-

2. Federal Responsibility and Power over Indian Affairs-- Roots of Federal Responsibility- The Sources of Federal Power-

3. Indian Country-

4. The Evolution of Tribal Governments-- Traditional Forms of Tribal Government- Transitional Tribal Governments- Tribal Government in Modern Perspective- Tribal Government and Contemporary Problems-

5. The Indian Judicial System-- The Development of the Indian Court System- Tribal Judges- Tribal Courts and the 1968 Indian Civil Rights Act- Federal Review of Tribal Court Decisions- The Tribal Court System: An Assessment-

6. The Role of Attorneys, Advocates, and Legal Interest Groups in the Indian System of Law-- Indian Attorneys and American Society- Attorneys and Advocates in an Indian Setting- Indian Legal Services Attorneys- Indian Legal Interest Groups-

7. The Criminal System of Justice in Indian Country-- Federal Statutes and Criminal Law- Criminal Jurisdiction: Bringing Order to a Complex Maze- Law Enforcement and Criminal Prosecution- Special Problems in Law Enforcement-

8. The Civil System of Justice in Indian Country-- Traditional Civil Law- The Civil System in Operation- Immunity from State Encroachment- The Indian-State Conflict of Laws-

9. Public Policy and the Legal Rights of Indians-- The Civil Liberties of American Indians- American Indian Religious Freedom- The Right to Basic Governmental Services- Bibliographic References- Index of Cases- Index of Topics