What protection do Native Americans have under U.S. law?

Under U.S. law, Native Americans are provided with numerous protections. The most significant protections come from the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, which extends many of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights to Native Americans. These include the rights to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, due process protection, and access to a lawyer. Additionally, Native American tribes have the right to maintain their own laws, governments, and courts. In addition to the protections provided by the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, there are other federal laws that protect the rights of Native Americans. These include the Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, which ensures that Native Americans can practice their traditional religions without government interference; the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which protects Native American children from being removed from their families; and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, which ensures the protection of Native American cultural and archaeological sites and the return of Native American human remains and other culturally important items. In the state of California, there is the California Indian Heritage Commission, established in 1977, which advocates for the preservation and protection of Native American culture and heritage. This includes protecting Native American sacred sites, repatriating Native American human remains, and advocating for the protection of Native American languages. Overall, Native Americans have a range of protections under U.S. law. These protections help to ensure that Native American culture and heritage is respected and protected, and that Native Americans can practice their traditional religions without interference.

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