In traditional North American Indian societies, decisions are made by consensus rather than by authorities. Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO), an organization concerned with the issue of tribal governance, considers poor communication and disagreements about issues of power, resources, and recognition to be among the causes for conflict…

Viewing indigenous peoples of the United States as ethnic/racial minorities is a misconception because there is no given ethnicity which might be correctly said to encompass the more than 400 distinctly identifiable ethnicities comprising what is lumped in the catchall category of "Native Americans" and because notions of ethnic/racial minority…

Designed to provide insight into the proceedings, transactions, and findings of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs, this 1981-82 annual report reflects the Commission's efforts to improve communications, understanding and working relationships between tribes and state government to provide tribes with technical assistance. The report…

Because Native American societies are held by United States courts to possess rights of self-government where these rights have not been explicitly withdrawn, the constitutions of 280 Native American governments in the United States (exclusive of 219 in Alaska) were examined as they existed in September 1981 to determine the extent and character…

The Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and XI, Public Law 95-561: Problems in the BIA Portland Area. issue of administrative funds (Element 10, Title XI, Basic Indian Education Act) to be allotted to the Portland area of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Maxine Edmo, president of the Advocates for Indian Education educational arm of the…

The House Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education met on April 28, 1980, to hear testimony regarding progress made and problems encountered in implementing Title XI Amendments. Various representatives of Indian Affairs and Indian Education Programs testified on the following: recent changes in BIA education programs;…

A compilation of six policy statements, the booklet is intended to draw attention to the suppression of the rights of indigenous peoples (specifically, the Canadian Metis) by an inflexible federalist system of government, misguided national policies, and land claim settlements such as the 1978 COPE settlement. It is also intended to propose…

Describing the "checkerboard" effect of legal jurisdiction over American Indians living on reservations currently operative under Federal, state, and local laws, this document presents a brief synthesis of the legislative history leading up to Public Law (PL) 83-280 and the Indian Self Determination Act of 1975 (PL 93-638). Specifically, this…

The history, current status, and future of tribally-controlled colleges serving American Indians are discussed, focusing on South Dakota's Oglala Lakota College. (MSE)

The Canadian government must move beyond its colonial mentality and provide First Nations with the tools to establish self-government as provided for under the authority of the Canadian constitution. Only then can First Nations governments properly provide for their citizens, both on and off reserve. More than half of the First Nations population…

This paper describes selected settings, circumstances, problems, and barriers to research in Indian country, and suggests ways to mitigate or overcome such problems and barriers. Examples are drawn from four research projects. Distinctions are drawn among sponsors of research in Indian country (usually federal agencies); consumers of such research…

Technical amendments to the 1996 welfare reform legislation--the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)--include new requirements for administering a state child support enforcement program. This document provides background information to American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal courts, and…

Anticipated budget cuts will challenge Indian educators to maintain and improve educational quality with less funding. Academic standards, staffing, inservice and preservice training and the possible consolidation or elimination of supplemental programs are items of concern. (CM)

Because attempts to educate Indian children in the value system of the dominant society have generally met with failure, Indian organizations, by taking control of Indian education, hope to educate their children in a system which stresses Indian values and culture. Results to date have been encouraging. (CM)

The second of two articles on criminal jurisdiction on Indian reservations proposes federal and local remedies to the jurisdictional problems caused by the 1978 Supreme Court "Oliphant" decision. Problem-solving models including cross deputization/mutual aid agreements, tribal/state commissions on jurisdiction, legislative proposals, and…