The federal government has a trust responsibility to protect and enhance tribal self-determination and prosperity. FCNL advocates for legislation that will protect tribal sovereignty and treaty rights.
Native Americans
Attribution
Lorie Shaull/Flickr
Take Action
Recent Updates
The Native American Legislative Update (NALU) is a monthly newsletter on the most important developments on Capitol Hill related to Indian Country.
Support the Creation of a Truth and Healing Commission on the Indian Boarding School Era
From the mid-1800s through the 1960s, Christian churches collaborated with the federal government to force Native American children to attend Indian boarding schools. The boarding school system was pervasive— more than 60,000 Native children attended over 500 different schools. The conditions at these institutions were horrific. Yet, the federal government has never conducted a full exploration of the harms and impacts of this federal policy.
Resources
Attribution
U.S. Indian Affairs
Attribution
Howl Arts Collective/Thien V.
Working with Native Americans for Justice
FCNL’s work on Native American advocacy started soon after it established an office on Capitol Hill. Read more about our history.
Pupils at Carlisle Indian Industrial School, Pennsylvania in 1900.
Addressing the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Christian churches collaborated with the government to create hundreds of boarding schools for Native American children. The conditions were horrific. It is long overdue for the United States and the Quaker community to acknowledge and address this historic trauma.
Violence Against Women Act Reauthorized
This long overdue reauthorization will be especially impactful for Native communities, where domestic and sexual violence occurs at unparalleled rates, and where cases involving murder or sexual assault frequently go unprosecuted.