The Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes was an agency of the United States colonial government in the

Philippine Islands The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

, under the

Department of the Interior The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the mana ...

that was tasked to conduct systematic investigations with reference to the non-Christian

tribes The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to conflic ...

of the colony, to ascertain the name of each tribe, the limits of their respective territory, population, their social organizations, languages, beliefs, manners, and customs. The bureau aimed to determine to the most practicable means "for bringing about their advancement in civilization and material prosperity". It was also tasked to review the practical operation of laws in reference to non-Christian tribes in the Islands. The bureau was created by an act of the

Philippine Commission The Philippine Commission was the name of two bodies, both appointed by the president of the United States, to assist with governing the Philippines. The first Philippine Commission, also known as the Schurman Commission, was appointed by Preside ...

in 1901.

References

{{reflist Insular Government of the Philippine Islands

See also

References