Why Self-Governance?
We, as Tribal societies, lived and prospered in our natural environment for thousands of years. Since our first contact with Europeans, bureaucracies in one form or another have dramatically influenced, changed and manipulated the lives of all Native Americans.
In a few short centuries, we have been transformed from self-sufficient, prosperous, tribal communities and governments into communities struggling to survive in the, now dominant, Non-Indian society. Through exposure to European diseases, our populations were diminished to near-extinction. Most of our lands and natural resources were lost through treaties, and acts of Congress. The lands and resources remaining in Indian ownership were mismanaged by bureaucratic incompetency. Our traditional economies were destroyed by colonial invasion, disrupting the natural balance of tribal trade and sustenance. Our self-sustaining governments were rendered near useless as the federal government exerted control over Indian Affairs. Our land bases were devastated by termination policies. Many extended family units became dysfunctional as our children were taken from their homes and placed in far away boarding schools. Tribal societies rapidly deteriorated as our people were forbidden to practice their religions, speak their native languages and maintain their cultures.
Yet, despite all this we have proven we can survive. Now, the Tribal Self-Governance initiative has given us resolve not only to survive, but the opportunity to once again become self-sufficient, self-determining and self-governing societies.
The Tribal Self-Governance Demonstration Project initiated this opportunity in 1988. The Permanent Self-Governance Legislation, P.L. 103-413 passed on October 25, 1994, now makes this opportunity a permanent reality for many Tribes. We have opened the doors that lead to a new Indian affairs agenda---one in which tribes can re-establish and re-affirm the formal government-to-government relationship between tribal governments and the U.S. Government. This relationship is critical and inherent in the treaties between our governments.
Self-governance is a fundamental right that Indian Nations practiced for thousands of years before the formation of the United States. We are regaining authority and control over our own affairs, to carry out our tribal governmental responsibilities for our people---economically, socially, politically and culturally. Only then will true Self-Determination and self-sufficiency of the Indian Nations and the trust responsibility of the United States become realities, not simply empty bureaucratic promises.
Self-Governance is fundamentally designed to provide Tribal governments with control and decision-making authority over the Federal financial resources provided for the benefit of Indian people. More importantly, Self-Governance fosters the shaping of a "new partnership" between Indian Tribes and the United States in their government-to-government relationships. Self-Governance provides, administratively, the opportunity for Tribal governments to exercise their sovereignty with minimal Federal intrusion and involvement.
All our Tribal societies enjoyed self-sufficient existence for thousands of years prior to western European exploration and colonization of this continent. Our cultures provided the basic democratic philosophies embodied in the United States Constitution. Our valuable resources changed European civilization. Through the course of dealing with the United States, often through formal treaties, we relinquished ownership to millions of acres of land, containing invaluable natural resources. In exchange, the United States was to protect our reserved lands, rights, and resources as well as provide services to Indian people.
Self-sufficiency was replaced as the United States through its Congress, Courts, and particularly the Federal bureaucracy transformed, sometimes, brutally, independent Tribal status into Tribal dependency. Over generations of Federal dominance and control, even some Indian people began to believe in this imposed dependency. Yet, through all the injustice and hardships, we survived and the voices of Tribal leaders and spiritual elders in each generation reminded us of our rightful roles and authorities as Self-Governing Indian Nations.
Self-Governance returns decision-making authority and management responsibilities to Tribes. Self-Governance is about change through the transfer of Federal funding available for programs, services, functions, and activities to Tribal control. Tribes are accountable to their own people for resource management, service delivery, and development.
Self-Governance is not the "termination" of the Federal-Indian relationship: Safeguards protecting the trust responsibility of the United States to Indian Tribes and people, including our sacred treaties, are contained in the enabling legislation, as well as in each negotiated Compact of Self-Governance. Self-Governance does not solve all problems, particularly the problem of unmet needs or inadequate funding, but it does allow Tribal Governments to develop their own solutions.
Self-Governance is an evolving approach directed by participating Tribes in cooperation with the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch. Each Tribal government by virtue of its own culture, tradition, and political philosophy will determine its relationship with the United States, a relationship that may include either direct Federal service delivery, Self-Determination contracts, Self-Governance Compacts, or some combination of these options. When these individual Tribal decisions are made regarding the desired relationship with the United States, taken as a whole, they will cause organizational and functional changes in the Federal Indian service bureaucracy. Hopefully, over time this redefinition of roles and responsibilities will strengthen the efforts of the "new partnership" in the government-to-government relationship and will serve to meet the Trust and other obligations of the United States to Indian Tribes and people.
When Self-Governance is the option that a Tribe chooses in establishing its individual relationship with the United States, it provides the Tribe, through its elected Council, the opportunity to determine the control and authority that the Tribe wishes to assume in the protection and advancement of the Tribe’s cultural, economic and political realities. This exercise of sovereign powers requires decisions and actions. Tribal Government in Self-Governance, by definition, is required to be pro-active. As such, the principals and practices of Self-Governance are inseparable from Tribal sovereignty.
In recent years, national Indian Affairs, managed and dominated by Federal bureaucracies, have been shaken by revelations of gross mismanagement uncovered by the news media or Congressional investigations. Legislative and administrative solutions ranging from "New Federalism" to bureaucratic reorganization are under review. Active Tribal government involvement in this review and the allied decision-making process is essential. Tribes must have the strongest possible role in the decisions that affect our relationship with the United States and with the realities of our local communities. Decisions cannot again be imposed on us. Self-Governance offers a Tribally-determined approach during this period of confusion, uncertainty, and change. Self-Governance allows us to be pro-Tribal and not merely passive observers of the problems experienced by the Federal Indian Affairs bureaucracy.
We urge those of you involved in the development and implementation of American Indian policy to give serious consideration to the Self-Governance concept. Communication between the Tribes is essential. Assisting others to understand this historic Self-Governance initiative and its potential is of critical importance to us.
Our Best Regards,
Self-Governance Communication and Education Project