American Indian law expert Robert A. Williams, Jr. discusses the legacy of US government-American Indian relations on this week’s show. Williams explains how modern concepts of American Indian rights continue to stem from outdated models of thought. In both popular culture and the US legal system, he talks about lingering views of natives as “wards of the state,” as well as deference to the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the idea that Europeans’ “discovery” and conquest extinguished American Indian rights to the land.

Click through the timeline below to view some of the most influential court cases and political decisions that continue to define policies for the 5.2 million people who identify as American Indian and Alaska Native, either alone or in combination with one or more other races.

Katie Rose Quandt reports and produces for BillMoyers.com. She was previously a senior fellow at Mother Jones and has written for America, In These Times and Solitary Watch. Follow her on Twitter: reports and produces for BillMoyers.com. She was previously a senior fellow at Mother Jones and has written for America, In These Times and Solitary Watch. Follow her on Twitter: @katierosequandt