Indian agency police
Encyclopedia
Indian agency police were policemen hired by the Indian agent
during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, assigned to a Native American
tribe. Many tribes had no recognizable governments and therefore no tribal laws. On these reservations, the Indian Agent hired tribal members to effect law and order according to Federal, agency, and treaty rules. These were considered federally appointed policemen. The Indian police that killed Sitting Bull
were of this kind.
It was the duty of Indian agency police to enforce federal laws, the laws of the state where their reservation was located, and the terms of the federal treaties with their tribal authority. Some tribes such as the Cherokee
had a well-developed system of tribal laws and tribal courts; the agency police also enforced these laws, and testified and maintained order in the tribal courts. Crimes against the agency police, since they were federal officers, had to be tried in the United States district court
.
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, assigned to a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe. Many tribes had no recognizable governments and therefore no tribal laws. On these reservations, the Indian Agent hired tribal members to effect law and order according to Federal, agency, and treaty rules. These were considered federally appointed policemen. The Indian police that killed Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
were of this kind.
It was the duty of Indian agency police to enforce federal laws, the laws of the state where their reservation was located, and the terms of the federal treaties with their tribal authority. Some tribes such as the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
had a well-developed system of tribal laws and tribal courts; the agency police also enforced these laws, and testified and maintained order in the tribal courts. Crimes against the agency police, since they were federal officers, had to be tried in the United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
.