The two sides of my argument are Native Americans and the Federal Government.

Native Americans value ancestral land and resources, governing themselves, and making decisions for their people.

The Federal Government valued “civilizing” Native Americans during the Allotment and Assimilation Era (1870's to 1930's) and during Indian Reorganization (1930's to 1950's). During the Termination Period (1950's to 1960's), the federal government completely left the tribes to their own devices and the mercy of the states. Now, our government values self-government and tribal sovereignty during the Self-Determination Era (1960's to the present).

The economy of Native Americans is indistinguishable from the policy of the Federal Government. If tribal land and resources are taken away, then as a people, Native Americans are the poorest in the U.S. With government help, opportunities have arisen; such as tourism, selling arts and crafts, and Indian gaming. Some methods of federal government help are providing funding, establishing support programs, and classifying Native American tribes as “domestic dependent nations” so states cannot interfere with and control the tribes, then tribes can retain their sovereignty, tradition, and culture. With gaming, Native Americans control their profits and the profit’s distribution, control their own government through elections, and can make support programs for their tribes. Through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, types of games have been classified, conditions on where and how games such as bingo can be played, and the amount of control states have over the gaming has been established. The National Indian Gaming Association was created in 1985 and represents organizations, tribes and business involved in Indian Gaming.