Self-Governance Communication & Education Tribal Consortium

Evaluating Options

Evaluating options available to Tribal Nations for the delivery of Federal programs and services to their citizens and communities (Self-Determination Contracting, Self-Governance Compacting, 477 agreements, Non-BIA Agreements in DOI)

Potential Tribal questions/topics:

  • Please discuss the Tribe’s history with self-determination and self-governance. How did the Tribe decide to start taking over programs and functions from the Federal government?
  • What are the key differences between Self-Determination and Self-Governance?
  • What challenges did the Tribe face as it transitioned to Self-Governance?
  • Describe how Tribal leadership got the community invested and supportive of transitions to Self-Governance.
  • Describe any opposition to transitioning to Self-Governance and how the Tribe dealt with mitigating the opposition.
  • What steps did the Tribe take to evaluate its capacity for taking over programs through Self-Determination and Self-Governance?
  • Are there times that a Tribe may elect to keep a program under a Self-Determination Contract rather than incorporating it into a Self-Governance compact?
  • What programs and functions formerly conducted by the Federal government have been assumed by the Tribe?
  • What is the role of Self-Governance within the Tribe’s broader goals of sovereignty?
  • Describe an example of how Self-Governance allowed the Tribe to improve the effectiveness of a Federal program.
  • Describe an example of how Self-Governance allowed the Tribe to make a Federal program culturally appropriate for the community.
  • Overview of 477.
  • When is a 477 agreement a beneficial and feasible option to pursue?
  • What are some programs Tribes have included in a 477 Agreement?
  • Experiences with Non-BIA agreements in DOI – what are some of the challenges/success stories?

*Note: these are intended to provide guidance. Additional topics are welcome.

Potential Federal questions/topics: 

  • Overview of Self-Governance (high level).
  • History of Self-Governance in DOI and IHS
  • Current status of Self-Governance (key facts and figures)
  • What have you seen as some key benefits resulting from Self-Governance?

*Note: these are intended to provide guidance. Additional topics are welcome.