Treaties between the Native Americans and the United States Government have existed since 1774. However, in the 1970’s through the “Cohen’s criteria,” the Bureau of Indian Affairs began reassessing acknowledgement of tribes and revoking the treaties originally agreed upon, therefore denying benefits and rights to the Native people. Many California tribes have since the 1970’s sought to reclaim the rights and re-establish their people as recognized by the federal government without success. This article reviews the implications of this new policy and lists many tribes who seek federal recognition.
Silencing California Indian Genocide in Social Studies Texts
Trazfer and Lorimer (2014), discuss the events leading up to genocide against the California Indians. Devastation has routinely been ignored in textbooks and in classroom lectures at all grade levels. During the gold rush era, California Native Americans lost livestock, and plants which led to the starvation of the people. The authors conclude that additional research and documentation needs to be studied to promote an accurate account of the events suffered by the California Indian people.