= Bureau of Indian Affairs = The '''Bureau of Indian Affairs''' ('''BIA''') is a [[UnitedStates/DepartmentOfTheInterior|U.S. DOI]] agency. It administers the Native American reserves held in trust for tribes, and works with trival governments for law enforcement and governmental services. <> ---- == Composition == The agency is overseen by the [[UnitedStates/DepartmentOfTheInterior|assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs]]. The agency is led by a '''director'''. The work of the agency is divided between four offices: * Indian Services * Justice Services * Trust Services * Field Operations, which oversees twelve regional offices ---- == History == By 1789, the [[UnitedStates/DepartmentOfWar|Department of War]] was charged with managing international relations with Native American tribes. A formal '''Bureau of Indian Affairs''' was established in 1824, though it was also commonly known as the '''Indian Office'''. By 1832 it was led by a '''commissioner'''. In 1849, the bureau transferred to the [[UnitedStates/DepartmentOfTheInterior|DOI]]. ---- CategoryRicottone