25 U.S.C. § 450 : US Code - Section 450: Congressional statement of findings

Search 25 U.S.C. § 450 : US Code - Section 450: Congressional statement of findings

(a) Findings respecting historical and special legal relationship,
and resultant responsibilities
The Congress, after careful review of the Federal Government's
historical and special legal relationship with, and resulting
responsibilities to, American Indian people, finds that -
(1) the prolonged Federal domination of Indian service programs
has served to retard rather than enhance the progress of Indian
people and their communities by depriving Indians of the full
opportunity to develop leadership skills crucial to the
realization of self-government, and has denied to the Indian
people an effective voice in the planning and implementation of
programs for the benefit of Indians which are responsive to the
true needs of Indian communities; and
(2) the Indian people will never surrender their desire to
control their relationships both among themselves and with non-
Indian governments, organizations, and persons.
(b) Further findings
The Congress further finds that -
(1) true self-determination in any society of people is
dependent upon an educational process which will insure the
development of qualified people to fulfill meaningful leadership
roles;
(2) the Federal responsibility for and assistance to education
of Indian children has not effected the desired level of
educational achievement or created the diverse opportunities and
personal satisfaction which education can and should provide; and
(3) parental and community control of the educational process
is of crucial importance to the Indian people.