American Indian Tribal Governments

An introduction to traditional tribal governments, to the history of Indian-white relations, to the structure and legal rights of modern tribal governments, and to the changing roles of federal and state governments in relation to modern tribal governments.

---

This book describes the struggle of Indian tribes and their governments to achieve freedom and self-determination despite repeated attempts by foreign governments to dominate, exterminate, or assimilate them. Drawing on the disciplines of political science, history, law, and anthropology. "American Indian Tribal Governments" aims to be a comprehensive introduction to traditional tribal governments, to the history of Indian-white relations, to the structure and legal rights of modern tribal governments, and to the changing roles of federal and state governments in relation to modern tribal governments. Publication of this book aims to fill a gap in American Indian studies, offering scholars a basis from which to begin an integrated study of tribal government, providing teachers with an excellent introductory textbook, and giving general readers an accessible introduction to American Indian history and government. The book's structure allows coverage of a breadth of information while avoiding the common mistake of generalizing about all tribes and cultures.
An introductory section presents the basic themes of the book and describes the traditional governments of five tribes chosen for their geographic and cultural diversity - the Senecas, the Muscogees, the Lakotas, the Isleta Pueblo, and the Yakimas. The next three chapters review the history of Indian-white relations from the time Christopeher Columbus "discovered" America to the present. Then the history and modern government of each of the five tribes presented earlier is examined in detail. The final chapters analyze the evolution and current legal powers of tribal governments, the tribal-federal relationship, and the tribal-state relationship. The book aims to illuminate issues of tribal sovereignty and shows how tribes are protecting and expanding their control of tribal membership, legal systems, child welfare, land and resource use, hunting and fishing, business regulation, education, and social services. Other examples show tribes negotiating with state and federal governments to alleviate sources of conflict, including issues of criminal and civil jurisdiction, taxation, hunting and fishing rights, and control of natural resources.
Excerpts from historical and modern documents and speeches highlight the text, and more than one hundred photos, maps, and charts show tribal life, government and interaction with white society as it was and is.