{"id":355664,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/discrimination\/protecting-the-civil-rights-of-american-indians-and-alaska-native.html"},"modified":"2017-08-15T12:46:30","modified_gmt":"2017-08-15T17:46:30","slug":"protecting-the-civil-rights-of-american-indians-and-alaska-native","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/discrimination\/protecting-the-civil-rights-of-american-indians-and-alaska-native.html","title":{"rendered":"Protecting the Civil Rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Protecting the Civil Rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives<\/h1>\n
\n
\n

Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

American Indians and Alaskan natives occupy an odd legal space: they’re simultaneously U.S. citizens and citizens of their tribes, which are considered separate nations. While Native Americans are protected under the same federal civil rights laws<\/a> as other U.S. citizens, the enforcement of these rights is complicated by this form of almost dual citizenship. Below, you’ll find explanations of American Indians’ rights under both the federal and tribal systems.<\/p>\n

Native Americans’ Civil Rights and the U.S. Government<\/h2>\n

As U.S. Citizens, American Indians are protected by the Bill of Rights, anti-discrimination laws, and all other statutes protecting the rights of American citizens. These rights include:<\/p>\n