Archaeological protection, historic preservation and trust responsibility on Indian reservations in the northwest plains

As defined by federal laws, the United States government has an obligation to ensure archaeological and historic resources on Indian trust lands are given appropriate consideration during planning processes. Treaties and court decisions also define the trust responsibilities of the U.S. government to Indian people. These federal and trust responsibilities can create contentious situations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as it initiates or approves actions on Indian trust lands. Three case studies illustrate the difficulty in reconciling complex Indian land issues with historic preservation.