A/HRC/21/47/Add.1 1978, which directs federal officials to consult with tribes about actions that may affect religious practices; the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, which directs federal agencies and museums to return indigenous remains and sacred objects to appropriate indigenous groups; and the Native American Languages Act of 1990, which provides support for the use and recovery of indigenous languages through educational programmes. A number of other laws provide protections for indigenous religion and culture, and still others address Indian economic and natural resource development, education and civil rights. 27. In alignment with the existing federal legislation, there are dozens of executive directives and programmes that apply specifically to indigenous peoples, many of which are listed in appendix I, and that reflect a significant level of dedication on the part of the Government to indigenous concerns within the self-determination policy framework. 28. Several agencies throughout the Government are dedicated specifically to indigenous affairs, the principal one being the Department of Interior, which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Under federal law, pursuant to its historical protectorate, or trusteeship, the United States holds in trust the underlying title to the Indian lands within reservations and other lands set aside by statute or treaty for the tribes. The Department is responsible for overseeing some 55 million surface acres and the subsurface mineral resources in some 57 million acres. 29. There are numerous other indigenous-specific agencies and programmes in various parts of the Government. Notably, and especially in recent years, the Government has made an important, increased effort to appoint indigenous individuals to high-level government positions dealing with indigenous affairs, including the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, which heads the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Also significantly, in 2009, the position of Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs was created to advise the President on issues related to indigenous peoples. III. The disadvantaged conditions of indigenous peoples: The present day legacies of historical wrongs 30. United States laws and policies in the last few decades undoubtedly have contributed to halting the erosion of indigenous identities, and have weighed in favour of placing indigenous peoples on a path toward greater self-determination, as well as economic and social health. Nonetheless, the conditions of disadvantage persist with the continuing effects of a long history of wrongs and past, misguided policies. A. Economic and social conditions 31. At the close of the Special Rapporteur’s mission to the United States, he received a manila envelope stuffed with letters written by students from a class at White River High School in South Dakota, a school where a majority of the students are from the nearby reservation of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. In a cover letter the class’s teacher explained that the students “would like to feel they have a voice as it is so desolate here that it is sometimes hard to remember there is an outside world. Despite all the hardships here, these kids are so incredibly resilient and talented.” 32. The teacher’s words were a poignant introduction to the first letter in the stack, which was from a 15-year-old girl who lamented: Life here is very hand to mouth. Out here, we don’t have the finer things. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. And I’m going to be honest with you, 9