Meriam Report (1928)Meriam Report (1928)

A nationwide study of Indian lifeA nationwide study of Indian life Publicized the deplorable living Publicized the deplorable living

conditions on reservationsconditions on reservations

Recommendations of Recommendations of Meriam ReportMeriam Report

Health funding should be increasedHealth funding should be increased Education funding should be Education funding should be

increasedincreased Allotment should be endedAllotment should be ended Tribal self-government should be Tribal self-government should be

encouragedencouraged

The Indian Reorganization Act The Indian Reorganization Act (IRA)(IRA)

► Ended allotment (division of indian lands)Ended allotment (division of indian lands)► Encouraged tribes to adopt constitutionsEncouraged tribes to adopt constitutions► Included hiring preferences for NDN’s in BIAIncluded hiring preferences for NDN’s in BIA► Established loan funds for tribal Established loan funds for tribal

developmentdevelopment► Allowed the secretary of Interior to accept Allowed the secretary of Interior to accept

additional lands in trustadditional lands in trust► Generally included other provisions toward Generally included other provisions toward

promoting tribal self-governmentpromoting tribal self-government

Accepting IRAAccepting IRA

►Tribes were given two years to accept or Tribes were given two years to accept or reject IRAreject IRA

►Tribes that accepted the IRA are called Tribes that accepted the IRA are called IRA tribes.IRA tribes.

►Tribes that rejected the IRA are called Tribes that rejected the IRA are called Treaty Tribes.Treaty Tribes.

►The Quinalt Nation and 14 Confederated The Quinalt Nation and 14 Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation rejected the IRArejected the IRA

Why did Yakama Reject IRA?Why did Yakama Reject IRA?

►On May 17, 1934, in hearing before On May 17, 1934, in hearing before the Senate, the great Yakama Nation, the Senate, the great Yakama Nation, in a statement signed by their chiefs in a statement signed by their chiefs and councilmen, said, “We feel that and councilmen, said, “We feel that the best interests of the Indians can be the best interests of the Indians can be preserved by the continuance of treaty preserved by the continuance of treaty laws and carried out in conformity with laws and carried out in conformity with the treaty of 1855”the treaty of 1855”