Supreme Court

• Lone Wolf v Hitchcock 1903

  • Lone Wolf signed treaty with US government - could only be changed with 4/5 of agreement from male population of tribe
  • Congress ignored it and allotted millions of acres of reservations
  • Supporter US government
• Harrison v Laveen 1948

  • Two NA argued their rights were violated when they wanted to register to vote
  • Ruled in their favour
  • Other states continued to restrict voting
• Oneida v Oneida and Madison Counties NY 1974

  • Oneida tribe demanded their land hack
  • Court ruled in their favour
  • Other tribes followed
• Fisher v Montana 1976

  • tribal courts could make decision on all cases involving adoption of NA children
  • To secure NA family unit
• US v Sioux Nation 1980

  • Accepted Sioux were entitled to $17.5million in compensation for loss of land in Black Hills
  • Government broken the Fort Laramie Treaty
  • Sioux refused money and fought for their land back
• Seminole Tribe v Butterworth 1982

  • Allowed tribes to establish gambling enterprises on their reservations
  • Exempt from state laws
• Charrier v Bell 1986

  • NARF victory - agreed that remains dug from burial grounds belonged to NA community
  • Over 30 states passed subsequent laws to protect burial grounds and remains