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American Indian Law Research Guide

Compilations/Collections

Cases & Finding Aids

Federal & State Cases, Finding Aids

Federal and state Indian law cases can be located using the same online and print resources used for case law research generally.  Note: West's Digest (available in print and via Westlaw) classifies Native American law under the topic "Indians" (topic number 209).  Online databases include: 

Case Law Reporters & Digests (Law Library Print Collection, see Location Guide for call numbers)

The Law Library's print collection of federal case law reporters are located on the 2nd floor of the Library in sections A, B & C.  Several of the West Digests are also located on the 2nd floor including West's Supreme Court DigestFederal Practice Digest, and the Decennial and General Digest series. The West Digest topic for Native American law is "Indians".

Minnesota Case Law Reporters & Digest

See the Library's Location Guide for locations & call numbers of print resources.

  • North Western Reporter (Coverage from 1879 - current) 
  • Minnesota Reports (Coverage from the first territorial cases published, until it ceased publication in 1977, vol. 312)
  • West's Minnesota Digest (Coverage from 1851 to current)

Note: The general case law databases on Bloomberg Law, Lexis Advance, Westlaw & WestlawNext Campus Research include coverage of Minnesota appellate court cases (dates of coverage vary).

Indian Claims Commission

The Indian Claims Commission was created in 1946 and issued decisions in Indian claims cases against the United States until 1979.  Claims not settled after 1978 were transferred to the United States Court of Claims.

Indian Claims Commission Decisions

Online: HeinOnline | Oklahoma State Univ. Library Electronic Publishing Center 
Print:  KF8208 .A559 U5645x (vols. 10-43 only)
Microform:  Law Storage Mfiche KF8208 .A55 D43x 1980 (complete set)

Index to the Indian Claims Commission Decisions (NARF, 1973, index coverage 1948-1973)
Index to the Indian Claims Commission Decisions (NARF, 1976 Supplement, index coverage 1973-1976)
Index to the Indian Claims Commission Decisions (NARF, 2009 Supplement, index coverage 1976-1978)
Online: PDF copies of the index and supplements at the National Indian Law Library.

Index to the Decisions of the Indian Claims Commission

Print:  Law Library KF8208 .A58 I54x 1973 (index coverage 1946 - Aug. 13, 1973)

Index to the Expert Testimony Before the Indian Claims Commission: the Written Reports

Print: KF8208.A58 I55x 1973
Microform:  Law Storage Mfiche KF8208.A58 I55x 1973


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