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Morton v. Ruiz

Facts

The couple left their reservation to seek employment a few miles away and lived in an 'Indian Village.' Apart from the husband's employment, the couple had not been assimilated into the dominant culture, and they maintained a close tie with the nearby reservation. The need for assistance arose when the mine where the husband worked was shut down by a strike. The Secretary of the Interior contended that general assistance benefits were available only to those Native Americans living on reservations in the U.S., or in areas regulated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska and Oklahoma, and were thus unavailable to Native Americans living off, although near, a reservation.

The couple left their reservation to seek employment a few miles away and lived in an 'Indian Village.' Apart from the husband's employment, the couple had not been assimilated into the dominant culture, and they maintained a close tie with the nearby reservation. The need for assistance arose when the mine where the husband worked was shut down by a strike. The Secretary of the Interior contended that general assistance benefits were available only to those Native Americans living on reservations in the U.S., or in areas regulated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska and Oklahoma, and were thus unavailable to Native Americans living off, although near, a reservation.

Issue

Are general assistance benefits available only to those Indians living on reservations in the United States (or in areas regulated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska and Oklahoma), and are they thus unavailable to Indians (outside Alaska and Oklahoma) living off, although near, a reservation?

Are general assistance benefits available only to those Indians living on reservations in the United States (or in areas regulated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska and Oklahoma), and are they thus unavailable to Indians (outside Alaska and Oklahoma) living off, although near, a reservation?

Rule

The Snyder Act provides the underlying congressional authority for most BIA activities including the general assistance program, which is designed to provide direct financial aid to needy Indians where other channels of relief, federal, state, and tribal, are not available.

The Snyder Act provides the underlying congressional authority for most BIA activities including the general assistance program, which is designed to provide direct financial aid to needy Indians where other channels of relief, federal, state, and tribal, are not available.

Analysis

The Court held that the court of appeals correctly ruled in the couple's favor. The Court found that Congress did not intend to limit assistance to only those Native Americans directly on, in contrast to those 'near,' a reservation. The denial of benefits to the couple was inconsistent with the distinctive obligation of trust incumbent upon the government in its dealings with Native Americans.

The Court held that the court of appeals correctly ruled in the couple's favor. The Court found that Congress did not intend to limit assistance to only those Native Americans directly on, in contrast to those 'near,' a reservation. The denial of benefits to the couple was inconsistent with the distinctive obligation of trust incumbent upon the government in its dealings with Native Americans.

Conclusion

The Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals and its reversal of the judgment of the district court. The case was remanded to the district court for further proceedings to determine the parameter of the class.

The Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals and its reversal of the judgment of the district court. The case was remanded to the district court for further proceedings to determine the parameter of the class.

Who won?

The respondents, a Native American couple, prevailed in the case because the Court found that the Secretary's limitation on general assistance benefits was inconsistent with congressional intent and the obligations of the government towards Native Americans.

The respondents, a Native American couple, prevailed in the case because the Court found that the Secretary's limitation on general assistance benefits was inconsistent with congressional intent and the obligations of the government towards Native Americans.

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