"Indian Self-Government" as a Technique of Domination

Previously, the field personnel had been required to enforce a senseless authority which the personnel knew was senseless. The Indians, inevitably, were hostile toward the field personnel. The Reorganization Act, and many reinforcing statutes and policies, replaced the Bureau's authority with Indian autonomy. The Service personnel thus had to become cooperators with the Indians; and most of them welcomed the change. It gave them the opportunity to take part in the unfolding of a philosophy of democratic grassroots action.1