Alaska and Hawaii became states almost 200 years after the start of the treaty era in Indian policy. As a result, native Alaskan and Hawaiian populations are often treated differently than Indian populations in the contiguous United States.

I. Alaskan Natives

The United States purchased the Alaskan territory from Russia in 1867. At that time, native Alaskans and some nonnatives inhabited the territory. Three years later, in 1870, Congress stopped making treaties with Indians, so the government...