U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, In 1789 , supervision of Indian affairs was assigned to the War Department , then established. The Act of April 21, 1806 appointed a Superintendent of Indian Trade, which office was abolished in 1822. The Office of Indian Affairs was established March 1824, and placed on its present footing by Act approved July 9, 1832, which made provision for the appointment of a Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who shall, under the direction of the Secretary of War (Continued on next card)