The Bureau of Indian Affairs is one of the oldest federal agencies. It has been a witness to and a principal player in the relationship between the Federal Government and tribal nations. Over the past 185 years, the BIA has changed from its original mission of subjugation and assimilation to a modern mission focused on promoting self-determination and government-to-government relationships between the United States and its American Indian and Alaska Native partners.
Bureau of Today, the Bureau of serves 574 Federally recognized tribes and their members through four offices: Office of Indian Services; Office of Justice Services; Office of Trust Services; and Office of Field Operations. These BIA offices directly carry out the core mission of the agency to serve American Indians and Alaska Natives at the tribal level, implementing programs that provide general assistance; disaster relief; Indian child welfare; tribal government; reservation roads; and Indian Self-Determination.
Throughout its history, the Bureau of has been governed by Federal law and regulations as well as treaties between the United States and Indian tribes. These laws and regulations have directly influenced the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives, and the Bureau of has played an important role in their implementation.
The Bureau of has also maintained its responsibilities for protecting and improving the lands, assets, and resources of American Indians, American Indian tribes, and Alaska Native villages. It does this by maintaining an effective, efficient, and adaptable export control and treaty compliance system. It also ensures that the U.S. maintains a leadership position in international export control regimes. In addition, the BIA provides support to other Federal departments and agencies through diplomatic pouch and mail services; official records, publishing, and library services; language and cultural training; setting allowance rates for Department of State personnel; domestic real property and facilities management; and domestic emergency management.