The Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936, also known as the Thomas-Rogers Act, was an extension of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 which sought to return some form of tribal government to the many tribes in Indian Territory. This act extended the law to include those tribes within the boundaries of the state of Oklahoma which had been divided up by a series of land allottments known as the Oklahoma land runs. This was eulogised in the 1992 Ron Howard movie Far and Away.

Major points of the act

• United States Secretary of the Interior is authorised to obtain good lands (including Indian lands) to be held in trust for the Indians.
• Where Indian lands are sold, the Secretary of the Interior shall show preference to obtain those lands for the use by Native Americans.
• Any tribe residing within Oklahoma shall have the right to self determination including the right to make their own bylaws.

External links

• Cherokee Observer (http://www.cherokeeobserver.org/parker.html)
• Full text of the act (http://www.infca.org/tribes/OIWA.htm)
• NARA Digital Classroom (http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/federal_indian_policy/federal_indian_policy.html)