Indian Claims Commission Decisions - Edmon Low Library
About the Collection
The Indian Claims Commission Decisions comprise a 43-volume set documenting legal claims brought by Tribal Nations against the United States between 1946 and 1978. Digitized by the OSU Library in cooperation with the University of Tulsa Law Library and the National Indian Law Library, the volumes contain the Commission's published opinions, orders, and findings of fact.
The Indian Claims Commission was established by Congress in 1946 to hear cases brought "on behalf of any Indian tribe, band, or other identifiable group of American Indians residing within the territorial limits of the United States or Alaska." Its creation marked a significant shift in federal policy by offering a dedicated tribunal to consider long-standing grievances arising from treaty violations, land cessions, and other federal actions.
The Commission's formation followed decades of limited and inconsistent legal pathways available to Tribal Nations. Although the Court of Claims had been created in 1855 to hear monetary claims against the United States, tribes were barred from filing directly after 1863. Later legislation permitted tribal claims but imposed burdensome requirements that made pursuing cases difficult. Oklahoma legislators played a notable role in proposing reforms, introducing several bills in the 1930s and 1940s that ultimately influenced the 1946 act. The final version created a specialized commission whose decisions could be reviewed by the Court of Claims and appealed to the Supreme Court.
These digitized volumes preserve a critical body of federal legal history and provide insight into the complex processes by which Tribal Nations sought restitution for treaty breaches and other injustices.
Related Collections and Resources
- Indian Claims Commission Materials at the National Indian Law Library: Provides additional documentation, including an index to the Commission’s decisions.
- Indian Claims Commission Decisions in the Internet Archive: Offers access to digitized volumes and individual pages through archived snapshots.
- Tribal Treaties Database: A searchable public database that offers enhanced access to historical treaties, agreements, executive orders, and more between the United States and Tribal Nations.
- Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties: Kappler’s landmark seven-volume compilation provides comprehensive access to the treaties, laws, and executive orders that shaped federal policy toward Indigenous peoples from 1778 to 1970.
- Angie Debo Collection: A digital collection highlighting the life of historian Angie Debo, with access to photographs and related materials.