American Indian 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 and written in a direct, readable style, American Indian Tribal Governmentsis 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 modem tribal governments. Publication of this book fills a gap in American Indian studies, providing scholars with a basis from which to begin an integrated study of tribal government, providing teachers with an excellent introductory textbook, and providing general readers with an accessible and complete introduction to American Indian history and government.

The book’s unique structure allows coverage of a great 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 Christopher Columbus "discovered" America to the present. Then the history and modem 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.

American Indian Tribal Governments illuminates issues of tribal sovereigntyand shows how tribes are protectingand expanding their control of tribalmembership, legal systems, child welfare,land and resource use, huntingand fishing, business regulation, education,and social services. Other examplesshow tribes negotiating withstate and federal governments to alleviatesources of conflict, including issuesof criminal and civil jurisdiction, taxation,hunting and fishing rights, andcontrol of natural resources.Excerpts from historical and modemdocuments and speeches highlightthe text, and more than one hundredphotos, maps, and charts show triballife, government, and interaction withwhite society as it was and is. Includedas well are a glossary and a chronologyof important events.