What is a treaty?
A treaty is an agreement between sovereign nations. See American Indian Treaties at the National Archives.
What treaties are included in this database?
A significant portion of this database is sourced from Charles J. Kappler's renowned "Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, Volume II," a foundational reference for treaties between Native American tribes and the United States government. However, recognizing the limitations of any single source in capturing the full breadth of Native American treaty history, this database extends beyond Kappler's compilation. We have diligently incorporated a variety of additional treaties and agreements sourced from historical records and scholarship to present a more complete and inclusive picture.
In the identifiers field, I notice RIT and NAI numbers. What do they represent?
RIT stands for Ratified Indian Treaty, while NAI represents National Archives Identifier. RIT numbers are created and assigned by the State Department, while NAI numbers are created by the National Archives.
What is an Executive Order?
An Executive Order acts as a directive issued by the President of the United States that carries the force of law without requiring Congressional approval. The President has the power under the Constitution to make proclamations and issue executive orders, and these presidential proclamations and orders have the same power and legal effect as laws passed by Congress. In the context of Native American history, proclamations and executive orders set aside land for reservations, extended federal trust periods, and redefined reservation boundaries.
What is an Agreement?
An Agreement is a formal arrangement between the U.S. government and a tribe that, unlike a treaty, does not require Senate ratification. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, even after 1871, many written agreements between tribes and the United States functioned like treaties. These agreements became a means of formalizing federal-tribal relations following the end of the treaty-making era.
What makes this database different from others?
Many resources include information about treaties in a variety of formats. For example, in 2020, the National Archives released hundreds of digitized treaties and made them available online through their catalog and the Treaties Explorer database.
Oklahoma State University Library's Tribal Treaties Database complements existing work undertaken by other academic, non-profit, and governmental agencies. It is curated with an emphasis on accessibility, offering intuitive search functionality. Further, the identification of key provisions helps enrich a user's understanding of these complex documents. This commitment to comprehensiveness and user experience sets the Tribal Treaties Database apart as a leading resource for researchers, educators, students, and anyone interested in the intricate history of Native American treaties.
I would like to learn more about tribal boundaries. Any suggestions?
Here are some resources to get you started:
- Indian Land Cessions in the United States, 1784-1894 (Library of Congress)
- Federal and Indian Lands and Land Cessions Viewer (U.S. Forest Service)
- Mapped Lands in Indian Country Tract Viewer (Bureau of Indian Affairs)
- National Tribal Geographic Information Support Center
- Native Land Digital
Additionally, please contact local tribal offices.
I noticed an error. Who should I contact?
We welcome your feedback. Please contact us.