Nixon's Message to Congress

On July 8, 1970, President Nixon delivered a special message to Congress on Indian affairs. In this message, Nixon rejected the concept of termination, declared the rights of Indians to control and operate Federal programs, restored the sacred lands near Blue Lake to the Taos Pueblos in New Mexico, gave Indians the right to control their own schools, proposed the Indian Financing Act of 1970 helping to provide economic incentives and loans for economic development, recommended more money for Indian health programs, helped urban Indians, created the Indian Trust Counsel Authority to assure independent legal representation for the Indians' natural resource rights, and recommended the establishment of a new position, Assistant Secretary for Indian and Territorial Affairs.