The article discusses the: 1) research problems involved in researching American Indian treaties and 2) contents of the volumes on Northwest and Southwest treaties and agreements. (Author/NQ)

In view of prior treaties and recent laws, American Indian affairs seem to fluctuate between two different problems--the extent of Federal control "over" Indians and the extent of Federal responsibility "to" Indians. Since treaty interpretations often come years after ratification, it is necessary that a treaty be liberally construed to the end…

Vesting Congress with implied powers over American Indians produces attitudes and assumptions which are extremely influential. There are seven such controlling assumptions: Congress is presumed to act in good faith toward Indians; the belief that past policies were based upon some intelligent criteria that incorporated an understanding of…

Legislation pertaining to American Indian affairs is highly dependent upon the events and movements of history. No purified legal theory such as contract law or the law of damages emerges from the field of Indian law. While some of the legal theory must come from the ratified treaties, statutes, and case law defining the relationship of the United…