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Article: Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Article from:
- Dictionary of American History
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BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) essentially has two major responsibilities: protecting Indian legal rights and providing services to Native Americans. The legal basis for federal authority rests on the power of Congress "To regulate Commerce with
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the Indian tribes" and federal laws, treaties, and judicial decisions.
Precursors to the Bureau
In 1789, Indian affairs were assigned to the Department of War. The secretary of war headed the "Indian Department," assisted by a chief clerk and an assistant clerk. From the first, federal administration of Indian affairs usually had a central office, various district headquarters, and ...