ABSTRACT
When we began to legislate for the recognition of Native American civil and human rights, it was something brand new to Native American people. Existing laws did not recognize that we were alive, except to say, “The ancient people are no longer here.” The federal government acted as though Native American people were extinct. For years, the tribes felt like they could not do anything and thought maybe science is right. When Native American people began to recognize that science and law were wrong, many hard feelings began between Native American people and the scientific community.
