The Indians --with their traditional independence, resourcefulness, and close ties to nature --provide the United States with its unique character, some authorities say. Now their relationship to the land, their neighbor, states, and local governments, is the subject of a book, "The States and Their Indian Citizens," just published by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U. S. Department of the Interior.
"This study comes at a time of critical review of the relationship between the various governments in our Federal system and makes a significant contribution to our understanding," Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton says in the foreword of this book.
The author is Dr. Theodore W. Taylor, former Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He did most of the research and writing on the book while a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
The Secretary continues: "The conflict in the Indian community as to the desirability of special Federal services to urban Indians is explored. Indeed, the general policies and philosophies discussed in this study may significantly contribute to a greater understanding of the relationship between ethnic minorities and the general population as well as to options available for future growth of our Federal system in general.
"Taylor discusses the nature of self-determination in relationship to trust responsibility, whether the non-Indian society has a perpetual obligation to the original Americans, the impact of subsidies, and the responsibilities residing with Indian, State, and Federal Governments."
The appendix contains an analysis of the special messages on Indians to the Congress by both President Johnson and President Nixon and a table that shows by State the acres of Indian land, population, and whether Indian children are educated by public or Federal schools.
Governor Robert Lewis of the Zuni Pueblo writes in his introduction to the book that "This book will help those (Indians) who want to help themselves think through what they want to do. It presents insights into some of the complex history and problems we Indians face along with our non-Indian neighbors which I think will be helpful to Indians and non-Indians alike."
The book is illustrated and has a 26" x 36" map in color that shows the Federal and state reservations.
The book may be purchased for $2.25 in paper cover from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Order by catalog number l20.2:ST2/3.
Review copies are available on request from the Office of Communications, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and 1951 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20242.
