I am committed to furthering the self-determination of Indian communities but without terminating the special relationship between the Federal Government and the Indian people. I am strongly opposed to termination. Self-determination means that you can decide the nature of your tribe's relationship with the Federal Government within the framework of the Self-Determination Act, which I signed in January of 1975.
United States. President (1974-1977 : Ford), Gerald R. Ford (1979). “Gerald R. Ford: Containing the Public Messages, Speeches, and Statements of the President”