Final answer:
The relationship between the federal government and American Indians and Alaska Natives is governed by policies aimed at empowering tribes with sovereignty and self-determination. The Bureau of Indian Affairs plays a key role in managing Native American lands and meeting treaty obligations, while legislation has increasingly recognized tribal governance and rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that provides federal services to American Indians and Alaska Natives is part of a long-standing relationship between Native tribes and the federal government. This relationship was constitutionally recognized in 1787 and has evolved over the years with various legislation aimed at improving the sovereignty and self-determination of tribes. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), a federal agency established in 1824, has played a significant role in this history, despite its early notoriety for the maltreatment of natives. Over the years, Congress has passed numerous laws empowering tribes, including the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, which allowed for greater control by tribes of their education and resource management, with funding provided by the federal government.
While historical policies such as the termination policy posed significant challenges to Native American self-governance, more recent developments have seen a shift towards empowering tribal governments. Achievements in water and land rights, governance compacts with states, the economic success of Indian gaming, and significant political appointments such as Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior have marked progress towards ensuring the rights of tribes. This ongoing evolution speaks to the complexity of the relationship between Native American tribes and the federal government and the continuous pursuit of Native American rights and sovereignty.