tions because of its legislature regarding Native American tribes. Public Law 280, passed in August of 1953, gave power to the states to take over civil and criminal jurisdiction. Because of this, the tribes were at a loss in authority to regulate themselves. In addition, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged for the termination of Indian programs for self-determination during his term in 1968. Despite these setbacks, legislature was passed that was beneficial to Native Americans. In June of 1924, Congress granted citizenship to all Native Americans who were not yet citizens. This was a step towards social equality for all Native Americans to be on the same level as the rest of the country. In 1971, the Native American Rights Fund was established to conserve tribal resources, promote human rights, and develop Indian laws. The significance of NARF was that it provided both for the preservation of the Native American culture in addition to seeking tribal self-government. The last highly significant step towards autonomy for Native American tribes occurred in 1975. On January 4, President Gerald Ford signed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. In doing so, Congress passed a mandate that allowed the Indian tribes to run their own federal programs if they chose to do so. The Native American tribes continued to push on in the struggle for social, cultural, and governmental equality in the following years. And through these years, they have gained some, though not all, of what they had been striving for. Because of the efforts of Presidents Carter and Bush, the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act have been passed, and the Native American Language Act has become a law. This made much of the fighting of past injustices worth while. Despite setbacks, they have overcome many of them and one day may see America as they envision it- where they are equal...
