Description |
As the American Indian has been crowded out of the thousands of acres required by his primitive methods of wresting a living from the earth, 1 t has gradually become apparent even to the Indian that he must adapt to the white man's culture or be gradually extinguished. Trends of the last several decades in Federal Indian policy are all away from the old isolation or wardship and toward integration and assimilation of the tribal members as full- fledged citizens of the United States. In many cases tribes have formed tribal councils which assume the role of protectors of the economic and social interests of the tribal members. In other tribes where the Indians are more educated, acculturated and competent, this stage has not been deemed necessary, and each I ndian is already assuming bis individual responsibilities as an independent citizen. |