NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION (NASA)
Vol. XI, No. 2 Fall, 2000
LINK TO INDIGENOUS POLICY JOURNAL HOME PAGE
NATIVE AMERICAN POLICY NETWORK NEWSLETTER PLANS FOR 2000-01:
WE INVITE YOUR HELP AND INPUT
We hope that you are having a fine fall. This newsletter is now available via e-mail at no charge and is $10.00 a year in paper via U.S. Mail. We hope to have technical difficulties solved and also be published on line at Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) at http://www.aio.org/. Natave American Policy Network Newsletter (NAPNWNL) puts out two regular issues a year (Spring and Fall) with Steve Sachs and Anne McCulloch as Coeditors. We are seeking additional editors, columnists and commentators for regular issues, and editors or editorial groups for special issues. Jeff Corntassel and colleagues at Virgina Tech will put together the fall 2001 issue with a tentative focus on “federal recognition and Indian Sovereignty af the turn of the century.” We invite reports, announcements and reviews of meetings, media, programs and events, and short reports of news, commentary and exchange of views. Send us your thoughts and queries about issues and interests and replies can be printed in the next issue and/or made by e-mail. In addition, we will carry NASA news and business so that these pages can be a source of NASA communication and dialoguing as well as circular letters and annual meetings at APSA .
Our process is for submissions to go to Steve Sachs, who drafts each regular issue. Unsigned items are by Steve. Anne McCulloch then edits, formats and mails the issue. You can reach us at:
Steve Sachs, Co-Editor Anne McCulloch, Co-Editor
Political Science, IUPUI Columbia College
Home: 4820 N. Broadway St. 1301 Columbia College Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46205 Columbia, SC 29203
Phone/Fax: (317)924-5965 (803)786-3628 Fax: 786-3789
ssachs@iupui.edu amcculloch@colacoll.edu
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REPORT OF THE 2000 NASA BUSINESS MEETING
The business meeting at APSA in September decided to offer the newsletter
free by e-mail and continue to ask $10 per snail mail subscription, that we
would prefer to faze out. For 2000-01, Steve Sachs was continued as coordinator
and will continue to coedit the newsletter with Anne McCulloch. Paula Mohan
is serving as Program Coordinator, coordinating the committee selecting papers
for the 2001 APSA meeting and arranging for NASA panels at some regional meetings.
Jeff Corntassel is continuing to act as liaison to APSA concerning its Native
American Scholarships. The meeting gave Steve Sachs guidelines and suggestions
for revising a statement required for NASA participation in next year’s APSA
meeting. “Why the Native American Studies Association Should be Part of the
APSA Program as an Affiliated Group.” A copy of the revised statement is included
below. Further suggestions for revision are invited as this statement may
be used again, and might be developed into a NASA statement of purpose. Everyone
wishing to participate in discussing NASA business during the year is invited
to be on the NASA coordinating council. Curently the Coordinating Council
membership is:
Gerald Alfred, taiaiake@uvic.ca, (250)721-6440; Paula Mohan, Mohaninmad@prodigy.net,
(262)472-1120;
Jeff Corntassel, ctassel@vt.edu, (540)231-8843; Sharon O’Brien, obrien@eagle.cc.ukans.edu,
(785)864-2661;
Renee Cramer, rgc8396@nyu.edu, (718)720-3321; Stephen Sachs, ssachs@iupui.edu,
(317”)924-5965;
Susan Grogan, segrogan@osprey.smcm.edu, (301)862-0205; Maggi Murdock, (307)268-2713;
Luke Jones, jones.luke@epa.gov, (202)285-3199; Carol Tebben, carol.tebben@uwp.edu
(262)595-2067;
Sameh Kamel, kamelsam@pilot.msu.edu; (517)353-5982;
Anne McCulloch, amcculloch@colacoll.edu, (803)786-3628;
Franke Wilmer, upofh@gemini.oscs.montanta.edu, (406)994-5246.
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CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR AMERICAN INDIAN AND INDIGENOUS PAPERS FOR NASA’S PROGRAM
AT THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION (APSA) MEETING, San Francisco
August 30 - September 2, 2001
The Native American Studies Association is hoping to sponsor two or more panels for the 2001 APSA in San Francisco next August on indigenous politics. Therefore, we invite quality proposals on indigenous-related topics. The 2001 APSA theme of the interdiscplinary nature of political science resonates well with our field since the study of indigenous politics has always drawn upon the evolution of law and legal studies, relations between governments and issues of shared jurisdiction, political culture and the politics of identity, public policy issues, studies of conflict and collaboration as well as theories of democracy to name only a few. Further, while our research focus is on indigenous politics, our work has a much wider significance given that it often illuminates the capacities of dominant institutions and processes to accommodate difference and the limitations of those capacities when American Indians and indigenous nations continue to be classified as "Other". Thus, we are hoping for an integrated, yet focused presence at the national conference in order to advance our own scholarship and yet still demonstrate its relevancy to other sub-fields of political science.
In keeping with the interdisciplinary theme, we are open to research that uses a plurality of methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, in exploring indigenous topics and likewise am open to research which employs a variety of levels of analysis from the tribal to the international. The preference will be for papers that re-frame issues in unique ways or that explore the implications of changing configurations of intergovernmental relations, indigenous political strategies and concerns, and public policy issues. We would also like to organize a panel which would be discussant-driven and allow for much more interaction among the presenters and the audience members than the traditional format does. These general guidelines are intended to be just that and should not preclude any other topic that is related to indigenous issues from being submitted for consideration.
We invite all paper proposals for the 2001 APSA meeting that deal with these rich areas of study. Please send paper proposals to be considered by the Native American Studies Association to Paula Mohan, 202 Salisbury Hall, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, Whitewater, WI. 53190, (262) 472-1120 or email to Mohaninmad@prodigy.net. The final deadline for proposals for APSA is November 15, 2000. Therefore, we would appreciate proposals or panel suggestions well in advance of that date in order to allow for the coordination with the organized sections so that we can make our presence as wide as possible. Please e-mail Paula with questions, suggestions, and concerns.
NASA will have a BUSINESS MEETING AND NETWORKING SESSION at APSA 2001 to:
1) choose coordinators and a coordinating council, plan for the future and
discuss other NASA business (improving the newsletter, participation at other
meetings, etc.), to be followed by 2) a networking session to share research,
concerns and interests.
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I
NASA PANEL PROPOSAL FOR THE MIDWEST POLIITCAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION MEETING,
Chicago. IL. April 19-21, 2001.
“The Limits of Legal Sovereignty: Cultural Constraints on Indigenous Rights”
This panel will deal with the emerging political power of American Indian Nations, due to the recent assertion of treaty-based federalism and the success of legal challenges in courts and the limitations placed upon it by the cultural premises of the Anglo-American institutions in which they must struggle for those rights. Ironically, these limitations occur in an era in which, through changes in the federalism relationship, more power is devolving to tribal governments than in the past and legal assertions of treaty-based sovereignty are widely recognized. In addition, the infusion of revenue from successful gaming casinos has helped to economically and culturally revitalize indigenous communities. This is an era in which the promise of true sovereignty and the autonomy it represents could become a possibility. Yet, it seems not to be happening.
In this panel, we will take three different approaches to examining this dynamic: the unprecedented recognition of tribal sovereignty and the simultaneous undermining of its potential. Using a variety of methodologies and working at different levels of analysis and in different institutional settings, we hope to illustrate some of the complexities of the conflicts involved. But, in order to examine this issue in depth, each of the papers will have a primary focus on indigenous nations just within the Great Lakes region. The differences in context and geography make resource use struggles unique to each region and the cultural context of institutional struggle also reflects much of state-tribal history.
Chair and Discussant: Susan Grogan,(St. Mary's College of Maryland)
Participants:
Carol Tebbins, (UW-Parkside), who is finishing field work for her book on the renewal of tribal courts and the conflict between their decisions and those handed down by state and federal courts. Her focus is on the Great Lakes region, “Trifederalism in the Aftermath of Teague v. Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, 599 N.W. 2d 911 (2000): The Interaction of State and Tribal Courts in Wisconsin.”
Anthony Gulig (UW-Whitewater), who uses a broadly comparative and historical approach to the construction of ‘aboriginal, rights and resource use within the context of both Canadian and American law in the Great Lakes region looking at comparative case studies of Saskatchewan and Wisconsin, “Treaty Rights and the Courts in Canada and the United States: Two Case Studies.”
Paula Mohan, (UW-Whitewater), “Undermining the Promises by Undermining the Premises: Policy Conversations Between Tribal Governments and the State of Wisconsin,” takes a micro-political cultural discursive approach to "policy conversations" within state government institutions between tribal members and state representatives over resource use and harvesting rights.
NASA PANEL PROPOSAL FOR THE WESTERN SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION MEETING,
Reno, NV, April 18-22, 2001
“Remembering the Circle: The Relevance of Traditional American Indian and Other Indigenous Governance for the Twenty-First Century”
If American Indian and other indigenous nations are to return to sovereignty, self-sufficiency and harmony, it is important that they revitalize traditional core values and apply them appropriately for contemporary circumstances. Thus, it is valuable to reexamine the variety of extremely respectful, democratic, inclusive and collaborative ways that were typical of traditional native societies. Moreover, traditional indigenous ways of governing, decision making and interrelating are increasingly relevant to the contemporary world at large, as “post-modern” societies more and more adopt methods for interrelating, and for deciding and acting collectively, that mirror traditional indigenous values. A few examples are the rise of employee involvement and team process in private and public organizations, the growing use of inclusive consensus decision making in government (e.g. in developing regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and in resolving disputes, the new interest in “restorative justice” across the United States, and the growth of concern about overcoming differences in rights and opportunities between women and men.
Chair and Discussant: Sharon O’Brien, Indigenous Native Studies Program, University of Kansas.
Presenters:
Stephen M. Sachs, IUPUI, “Remembering the Circle: The Relevance of Traditional
American Indian Governance for the Twenty-First Century,” surveys the modes
of governance and related aspects of traditional native North American societies,
examines their underling values and principles, and considers their relevance,
briefly for returning Indian nations to sovereignty, self-sufficiency and
harmony, and more extensively for developing mainstream society. (The paper
is an adaptation of a draft of a first chapter for a book being written by
Sthephen Sachs, LaDonna Harris, Barbara Morris and Deborah Esquibal Hunt,
Recreating the Circle: Returning Indian Nations to Sovereignty, Self Sufficiency
and Harmony as Partners in American Federalism).
Louis Herman, University of Hawai’i, West O’Ahu, “The Primal Trans-modern convergence: The New Science and San-Bushman Political philosophy.” deals with the retrieval of a political cosmology from the paradigmatic primal people - traditional San Bushman of Southern Africa- the hunting gathering culture with the best claim to unbroken continuity with the southern African origins of humanity. The Retrieval is facilitated by emerging discoveries in the new sciences: mathematical cosmology, and transpersonal psychology. San politics in turn suggests a way of institutionalizing this new-old understanding of the human condition into a genuinely trans-modern politics. (The paper is reflective of Herman’s work on a book in progress, The Primal Quest: Politics and Meaning in a Postmodern Age )
Joyotpaul Chaudhuri, Arizona State University, “Muscogee Creek Values and
Political Theory,” reports on the results of Forty years of research in living
among the Muscogee Creeks to present an indepth picture of their integrated
system of values and political philosophy. Much of this is to be found in
traditional stories and myths which explain natural events and observable
facts. In so doing, they set forth a metaphysical understanding of the world,
and of human relationships, that provides for a different approach to politics
and social life than that of Western traditions; but one that is applicable
to meeting the problems of the contemporary world. (This paper is drawn from
Jean and Joyotpaul Chaudhuri’s book, A Sacred Path: The Way of tne Muscogee
Creek (Los Angeles: UCLA American Indian Studies Center, 2000).
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CALL FOR PAPERS/ABSTRACTS FOR BOOK ON POWWOWS
The University of Nebraska Press has initiated a new series, Contemporary
American Indian Issues. The series editor, Devon Mihesuah, has asked Luke
Eric Lassite to serve as editor of an anthology tentatively entitled "Powwow:
Native American Performance, Identity, and Meaning." The editor is particularly
interested in original, theoretical essays that engage multiple Native voices,
but will also consider previously published papers (not to exceed 30 pages).
In addition, the collection shall include a final section of interviews with
"movers and shakers" in the powwow world.. Thus also invited are
submissions of original interviews that follow the interview format currently
in use in the American Indian Quarterly. Interested authors should send me
an abstract of their planned paper or interview by 1 December 2000 (preferably,
as an E-mail attachment). By 15 January 2001, a tentative Table of Contents
will be prepared and authors will be notified as to their participation in
the collection. Send abstracts to: elassite@gw.bsu.edu, Luke Eric Lassiter,
Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306-0435.
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DIALOGUING
A very effective vehicle for community building, that would seem to have
application in Indian Country, is Edgar Cahn’s invention of TIME DOLLARS.
Time dollars are a method for building relationships through creating a special
money for secondary economies. The idea is for communities or community organizations
to credit a participant with 1 time dollar for every hour of what ever the
community or organization defines as eligible work. Time dollars can than
be spent by participants for whatever a community or organization determines.
In one community, for example, participants could buy 1 hour of legal services
by earning 1 time dollar for helping needy neighbors or contributing to community
projects. In another case, a community reduced high school drop out rates
by providing time dollar credit to students for tutoring younger students.
After 50 hours of tutoring, students earned a computer donated to the program.
The students involved were behind in skills like math and reading ability,
but were proficient enough to help younger people. As a result, they gained
confidence, became involved in their own studies, and achieved higher grades.
For Indian nations and organizations, time dollars allow work to be redefined
according to tribal values. Navajo Nation has already taken Edgar Cahn’s advice,
about that, to define helping prepare for, and participating in, traditional
ceremonies, as work under welfare reform. For more information, contact Edgar
Cahn, Time Dollar Institute, 5500 39 St., Washington, DC 20015 (202)686-5200,
timedollar@aol.com, www.timedollar.org.
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ON GOING ACTIVITIES
The GRASS ROOTS OYATE, who have occupied tribal offices as part of their call for revision of the constitution of their OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE ON THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, hosted a three day inter-tribal CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO THEIR CURRENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT. These were imposed on most federally recognized tribes by the U.S. Government under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (IRA) and the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936. The IRA form of tribal government often is in conflict with traditional tribal culture and, thus, has been a major source of tribal government inefficiency and deadlock, and of community conflict. (For more discussion of this problem see, Stephen M. Sachs, LaDonna Harris, Barbara Morris and Deborah Hunt, "Recreating the Circle: Overcoming Disharmony and Infighting in American Indian Communities," Proceedings of the 1999 American Political Science Association Meeting.)
Among the issues on which the NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS (NCAI) has been lobbying Congress, one of the more important has been for the provision of general and administrative overhead to tribal governments for carrying out federal programs. Lack of such funding, along with lack of adequate funding for training, have been major barriers to a great many tribal governments in exercising their right to take over federal programs on their reservations. For more information on NCAI’s positions, see, www.ncai.org/.
The NATIVE AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION (NANBA) held a conference in San Diego in July to help Indian nations break into bank ownership. For more information, contact NANBA at (405)292-3020, nanba@ionet,net, http://www.nanba.org.
FIRST NATIONS NORTH AND SOUTH works with Indigenous groups around the world
with a special emphasis on Chiapas in Mexico. For information see http://www.angelfire.com/mm/use.
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INDIAN AND INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENTS
As of Mid-October the FEDERAL BUDGET FOR INDIAN PROGRAMS has completed the conference stage in congress, but has not yet been passed. President Clinton has requested increases in almost every budget category, and large increases for school construction, Tribal Priority Allocations (TPA), contract health services, land claim and water settlements, and the Indian Guaranteed Loan Program (in education). Congress has generally agreed to less in conference than the President’s requested, but more than in FY2000. For school construction, Clinton proposed $300 million compared with FY2000’s $133 million. Conference agreed to $293 million. Many Indian schools are in such terrible condition (some dangerous) that the President’s proposed increase, while significant, would not be nearly enough to meet the need. The Indian Health Service was funded at $2,074 million in FY2000. Clinton proposed $2,271 million and Conference agreed to $2,240 million. Total health facilities were budgeted at $316 million in FY2000. The President proposed $349 million and confeence agreed to $364 million for FY2001. TPA was $701 million in FY2000. The President proposed $761 million and conference agreed to $735 million. BIA operation of Indian programs totaled $1,640 million in FY2000. Clinton’s proposals in this set of categories totaled $1,795 for FY2001, while conference agreed to $1,741 million. Tribal Public Safety and Justice received only a .072% increase of $4 million in conference, which was what Clinton proposed. For more details, visit the the National Congress for American Indians website: www.ncai.org/
While crime has been droping nationally for the last seven years, NATIVE YOUTH CRIME CONTINUES TO RISE driven by a DEPRESSING COMBINATION OF DRINKING AND DESPAIR according to a July Coalition for Juvenile Justice report. 3% of juveniles 10-17 arrested for liquor law violations are Indian, while they constitute only 1% of their age group nationally. The Coalition recommends expanding reservation programs to combat alcoholism, depression and gangs. Meanwhile, the Youth Law Center in Washington, DC published a report early this year , Building Blocks for Youth, indicating that INDIAN YOUNG PEOPLE (and other minority youth) SUFFER AN ALARMING PATTERN OF RACIAL BIAS AT EVERY LEVEL OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS in the U.S. A recent report indicates a CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN INDIAN COUNTRY because the Indian Police Academy is turning out 150 police officers a year in the face of a current need for 2000 new officers. Representatives of Indian colleges met in Rapid City, SD in March to consider developing educational programs to fill this need.
A report by the U.S. Interior and Justice Departments, in August, RECOMMENDS THAT NATIVE HAWAIIANS BE GIVEN THE SAME STATUS AS MEMBERS OF RECOGNIZED TRIBES IN INDIAN COUNTRY. Senator Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, has proposed legislation to the same effect, and a version of the bill passed the House on September 26.. The FBI reported in July that ONLY 4 OF 57 DEATHS INVESTIGATED IN RECENT MONTHS ON SOUTH SOUTH DAKOTA RESERVATIONS ARE UNEXPLAINED. In August , a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING was signed between almost a DOZEN FEDERAL AGENCIES (including EPA, BIA, the Indian Health Service, the Departments of Agriculture, Defence and HUD) to COLLABORATE WITH ALASKA TRIBES AND NATIVE VILLAGES TO CLEAN UP TOXIC WASTE on on Indian lands. The U.S. Telecommunication Commission is prepared to COLLABORATE WITH INDIAN NATIONS IN DEVELOPING PHONE SERVICE as 50% of reservation Indians have no phone service and only seven tribes have developed their own phone companies, beining in 1958. The Federal Government agreed TO PAY $260,000 IN NEW CONSTRUCTION TAXES TO THE BLACKFOOT NATION, dropping its contention that it is exempt from tribal taxation. Tribes on the FLATHEAD RESERVATION will receive $35 million in a SETTLEMENT OF A SUITE FOR DAMAGES from operation of Kerr Dam. Following a request from the BIA to MOVE THE PROCESS OF OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING INDIAN TRIBES from it to a special commission, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell proposed Senate Bill S. 611 to establish a three member commission for that purpose appointed by the President with confirmation by the Senate. EPA has designated the SHOSHONE-BANOCK TRIBE of Fort Hall, ID AS BEING RECOCNIZED AS IF IT WERE A STATE FOR ENFORCING THE CLEAN AIR ACT. The National Council on Historic Preservation has ENDED A 1994 AGREEMENT WITH THE ARMY ENGINEERS because the ENGENEERS VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW in dealing with human remains on the Yankton Sioux Reservation. The Council will now deal with the Engineers on a case by case basis. On the 175th anniversary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, on September 8, Assistant Secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs, Keven GOVER APPOLOGIZED FOR THE BIA’S PAST ACTS, saying in part, “This agency participated in the ethnic cleansing that befell the Western tribes....This agency set out to destroy all things Indian....Let us begin by expressing our profound sorrow for what this agency has done in the past.”
The STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE AND THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA have entered into a COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO COLLECT TRIBAL MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL AND SPECIAL FUEL TAXES. The tribal tax, which is at the same rate as the state tax, since January 1, is administered and collected by the state tax department. The tribe receives 75% of the revenue collected, less a 1% administrative fee and 25% goes to the state. Several Washington Tribes, along with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Association, are collaborating with local, state, federal, non profit organizations to promote statewide participation of volunteers in salmon restoration in the COLLABORATIVE, ‘PEOPLE FOR SLAMON PROJECT.’ Over 500 people from tribal nations, state and federal officials from across the U.S. and Canada met in the Second annual American Indian Tourism Conference in Greenbay. WI, in September. The Interior Department, the state of Michigan and five Indian nations, in August, reached AGREEMENT ENDING A DISPUTE OVER INDIAN FISHING PRACTICES IN THE GREAT LAKES. As part of the agreement, the state will pay $17 million to help the tribes convert some of their gill net boats to trap net boats, while the federal government will compensate, with $8.5 million, several small Indian fishing operations that will not receive replacement gill net boats. POLICE AND ALASKA NATIVE GROUPS have formed a committee in Anchorage, AK TO WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE THE VERY HIGH RATE OF RAPE of native women.
The U.S. SUPREME COURT agreed in October to CLARIFY WHETHER STATE OFFICIALS CAN BE SUED IN TRIBAL COURT over actions taken on Indian land. Nevada v Hicks, 99-1994 involves four state wildlife officials being sued for actions taken on the Paiute-Shoshone Reservation in Western Nevada. In June the Court voted 6-3 to allow the QUECHEN ON THE FT. YUMA RESERVATION to pursue their claim to 25,000 acres in Arizona and California and rights to enough water to irrigate the tract. A three judge panel of the U.S. COURT OF CLAIMS ruled in June that the ALABAMA-COUSHATTA, whose reservation is 90 miles northeast of Houston, TX, had 2.8 million acres of pine forrest taken from them illegally. The tribe is negotiating with the Justice Department for a hoped for multimillion dollar settlement, which ultimately must be approved by Congress. A Federal District Court in Montana has RULED THAT THE CROW NATION HAS NO POWER TO LEVY A 4% RESORT TAX ON NON-TRIBAL BUSINESSES operating on non-indian owned land within the reservation.
ARIZONA PROPOSITION 203, WHICH WOULD END BILINGUAL EDUCATION, if passed will affect more than 80,000 Indian children attending on reservation public and charter schools or bussed off reservation to public schools. INDIAN TRIBES HAVE REDUCED SOFT MONEY DONATIONS TO POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE CURRENT ELECTION SEASON TO THE 1996 RATE having found that having increased donations to $1.2 million in 1n 1997 and 1998, while spending about $7 million for lobbying in Washington, did not significantly increase their political leverage. Tribes, now, generally are putting more effort into building long term relations with members of Congress. There are some significant exceptions, however. Indian tribes in Washington have been involved in a major effort to defeat Senator Slade Gorton, and in 1998 California nations contributed $5.8 million to political campaigns while spending $70 million to help pass Proposition 5, allowing Indian tribes to continue operating casinos with video slot machines. As the California Supreme Court declared the measure unconstitutional, California tribes are again working and spending hard for Proposition 1a to change the state constitution and give them the exclusive right to operate Nevada style slot machines. In June, THE WASHINGTON STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CALLED FOR TERMINATION OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS. The REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE REJECTED THE RESOLUTION in July.
CASINO GAMBLING HAS HELPED INDIAN NATIONS REDUCE THE GROWTH OF POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT. Among the 72 tribes with casinos that use the Agriculture Department’s Food Distribution Program, reservation household participation increased 8.2% from 1990 to 1997, while the 44 tribes without casinos using the program experienced a 57.3% increase. Similarly, in states in which there is Indian gaming, food stamp use increased 5.6% from 1990 to 1990 as opposed to an increase of 17.7% in states that do not. In 1998, 23 tribes grossed over $100 million from casinos (totaling 56% the 1998 gross tribal gaming income). Unemployment for those tribes dropped from 34.5% in 1991 to 27.7% in 1997. The average poverty rate in counties that have reservations fell from 16.7% in 1989 to 14.2% in 1995, while the median household income increased in those counties by 30% from $23,937 to $31,153. The NORTHERN UTE TRIBE is providing $2.3 million to start up a high-tech business on the reservation in collaboration with Porject Bravo (Building Rural American Venture Opportunities), a federally funded program, and Oracle Corporation. The project is also receiving funding from the U.S. Small business administration (which in 1998 expanded minority lending) and involves collaboration with the State of Utah to provide Custom Fit training money under the Job Training Partnership Act. The FIRST CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE was made on NAVAJO NATION trust land, in July, under the Navajo Conventional Lending Initiative, an innovative arrangement, worked out between Fannie Mae and the tribe. Several tribes, including the QUINALT in Washington and the GRAND RONDE in Oregon have BEGUN ISSUING MUNICIPAL BONDS to raise money for capital development. The BLACKFEET NATION is teaming up with SeaWest Wind Power to build MONTANA’S FIRST WIND ELECTRIC POWER FARM.
MEXICO’S NEW PRESIDENT, Vincente Fox Quesada, who will take office in December, has said that he supports the earlier agreement between the government and the Zapatistas, rejected by his predecessor. Fox has stated that he will pull back Mexican troops and reopen negotiations. In September, officials reported that in the WESTERN AMAZON Upper Tarauca River Indigenous Area, SETTLERS HAD SHOT AT A GROUP OF INDIANS, KILLING ONE, of what is believed to be one of the largest groups of uncontacted Indians. MEDIATION IS PENDING IN A DISPUTE BETWEEN BURNT CHURCH FIRST NATION PEOPLE AND CANADA over lobster fishing rights off New Brunswick. In September, authorities arrested four Burnt Church boat crews for alleged illegal lobster fishing that the Nation says is their right by treaty. On February 1, the INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS unanimously ruled that it WILL CONSIDER THE MERITS OF AN INDIAN LAND RIGHTS CLAIM AGAINST NICARAGUA. This unprecedented decision is an indication that the court may play an important role on indigenous issues as all members of the Organization of American States (OAS) are legally bound by its decisions. For more information contact the Indian Law Resource Center 602 N. N Ewing St., Helena, MT 59601 (406)449-2006 or (202)547-2800, int@indianlaw.org.
The celebration at the UNITED NATIONS, in August, of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People was followed by a two day WORLD INDIGENOUS CONFERENCE. The main theme of the first day was a CALL FOR UN PROTECTION OF INDIGENOUS YOUTH FROM ARMED CONFLICT, as indigenous communities have been disproportionately affected by war in their vicinity. The second day constituted a Preparatory Consultation for next year’s UN CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM (WCAR) to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa. Resolutions of the session called for compensation for the most obvious forms of victimization of indigenous people, a recinding of the Holy See’s Intera-Ceatera Bull, dividing the Western Hemisphere between Spain and Portugal and serving as a basis for anti-indigenous governmental acts, establishment of an International Tribunal for Indigenous Peoples, recognition of the dangers of environmental racism impacting indigenous communities, and condemnation of the genetic modification of indigenous resources. Objection was taken to the UN’s reference to indigenous peoples as NGOs, with some delegates proposing that they be referred to as “indigenous peoples,” which would imply that they have a sovereign right to self-determination. Meanwhile, The UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL has adopted a resolution to establish a PERMANENT FORUM FOR INDIGENOUS ISSUES. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MEDIA NOTES
Jean and Joyotpaul Chaudhuri A SACRED PATH: THE WAY OF THE MUSCOGEE CREEK, available shortly from UCLA American Indian Studies Center, is a study of Muskogee Creek values and philosophy, including political and social ways of seeing. The work includes analysis of the traditional world view of the people as set forth in traditional myths and stories, as well as from observations from many years of living with the Muscogee Creek.
LaDonna Harris, Edited by Henrietta Stockel, LA DONNA HARRIS A COMANCHE LIFE is new in hardcover from the University of Nebraska Press. It consists of edited interviews of Harris by Stockel.
Roger D. Herring, COUNSELING WITH NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES: STRATEGIES FOR HELPING PROFESSIONALS is Multicultural Aspects of Counseling Series 14 from Sage Publications in paper in 1999.
Calvin Luther Martin, THE WAY OF THE HUMAN BEING draws upon the author’s experience with the Navajo and Yup’ik to work with native American myth and stories to make deep incites into native thinking that some commentators say shows the need to rethink early interpretations of Indian culture. The 256 pp. Volume, winner of the Anne Izzard Storytelling award, is available for $14.95 paper, $30 hardcover, (+$3.50 first volume, $.75 for each additional handling) from Yale University Press, P.O Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520 (800)987-7323, www.yale.edu/yup.
W. Dale Mason, INDIAN GAMING: TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND AMERICAN POLITICS is a new study focussing on New Mexico and Oklahoma, and putting Indian gaming politics in other states in context, in paper from the University of Oklahoma Press.
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Here is a list of tribal college and American Indian Studies program email
addresses that I have been able to compile -- it is by no means comprehensive
since not all program directors around the country can be reached online:
aihec@aihec.org, mmcleod@bmcc.org, bcc@3rivers.com, ericstev@hoopster.little-hoop.cc.nd.us,
sitanka@sat.net, vfowler@menominee.edu, jtutt@crownpoint.vsat.net, motis@dqu.cc.ca.us,
fbecenti@crystal.ncc.cc.nm.us, rlbear@dkmc.cc.mt.us, ljbriggs@ezigaa.fdl.cc.mn.us,
cfalconchan@hotmail.com, ldemaray@fbcc.bia.edu, jimsh@fpcc.cc.mt.us, kswisher@rossl.cc.haskell.edu,
dwarrior@iaiancad.org, tomdavis@lco-college.edu, tempprez@lltc.org,janine@main.lbhc.cc.mt.us,
dfree@lptc.cc.ne.us, niccpresident@yahoo.com, blorence@nwic.edu, tshortbull@olc.edu,
redcrow@uleth.ca, joe_mcdonald@skc.edu, lionelbd@rosebud.sinte.edu, elden@mail.swcc.cc.sd.us,
rsmcneil@aol.com, ce@sipi.bia.edu, steve@scc.rockyboy.org, cartym@aol.com,
dmgipp@aol.com, helen_klassen@hotmail.com, dparrish@mail.up.net, williammehojah@bia.gov,
trj@csulb.edu, ivernon@vines.colostate.edu, aipoffice@cornell.edu, hunap@harvard.edu,
ferris@laurel.humboldt.edu, wfunmake@mnsfld.edu, dfixico@eagle.cc.ukans.edu,
cornell@msu.edu, zna7001@montana.edu, Ronald.Trosper@nau.edu, dtibbett@nmu.edu,
DNEWHOUSE@trentu.ca, jstauss@u.arizona.edu, mjmacri@ucdavis.edu, aisc@ucla.edu,
larry-zimmerman@uiowa.edu, cpnais@anthro.umass.edu, clarke@d.umn.edu, aminstud@tc.umn.edu,
nasprog@selway.umt.edu, nasinfo@unm.edu, knick@nat.uncp.edu, sjnewby@ou.edu,
iais@usd.edu, ais@uwec.edu, naaad-list@dartmouth.edu, rjatashe@hotmail.com,
naap@phoenix.princeton.edu, valeo@uiuc.edu, michmaas@sfsu.edu, <nasa@comp.uark.edu>
The most comprehensive website that I know of that details these programs:
http://www.pitt.edu/~lmitten/education.html - Jeff Corntassel.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
APSA’s SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR MINORITY STUDENTS, called the Ralph Bunche Summer
Institute, encourages rising seniors who have an interest in graduate school
in political science to pursue that interest by giving them 6 weeks of graduate
level training and serious mentoring. Until last year, this program was aimed
at African Americans but it was expanded last year to include Latinos and
Native Americans. For information contact APSA’s Director of Minority Affairs
Sue Davis, PhD, Program Director, American Political Science Association,
1527 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202)483-2512, fax: 202/483-2657,
sdavis@apsanet.org.
===============================
The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Woodrow Wilson
School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University will be
offering a SPRING CONFERENCE for first and second year college STUDENTS WHO
ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING PROFESSIONAL CAREERS IN PUBLIC POLICY. The conference
is intended to help prepare future leaders who possess a commitment to public
service and in particular to addressing policy issues most affecting historically
under-served communities and people of color for study in public policy. Participants
Receive: Travel expenses, Accommodations with a student host, Meals. Please
visit the web site to download the application: www.ksg.harvard.edu/springconference.
. It is also imperative that you write, Maurilio Leon, on the application
where it indicates where you learned about the program. The deadline is Nov.
30th, 2000.If you have any questions, e-mail Maurilio Leon at: leonmau@ksg.harvard.edu
<mailto:leonmau@ksg.harvard.edu>.
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
CANDIDATES FOR MINORITY CONGRESSIONAL INTERNSHIPS are being sought by Vaurice
Starks, Program Director, Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences,
Analytic Epidemiology Research Branch, EPN, 6130 Executive Blvd, Room 240G,
Bethesda, MD 20892-7395 (301) 496-9600, FAX: (301) 402-4279 E-mail: vs38j@nih.gov
<mailto:vs38j@nih.gov>. If anyone is interested, please send a resume
and a writing sample to: Erica L. Richardson, Legislative Assistant/Intern
Coordinator, Office of Congressman Sam Gejdenson, 2304 Rayburn House Office
Building, Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2076, fax:(202) 225-4977
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WHY THE NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE PART OF THE APSA PROGRAM AS AN AFFILIATED GROUP 8/24/00
Stephen M. Sachs, NASA Coordinator
Political Science, IUPUI, ssachs@iupui.edu
H: 4820 N Broadway St/, Indianapolis, IN 46205
(317)9245965
There are four reasons why the Native American Studies Association (NASA) should participate in APSA annual meetings. 1) NASA focuses on important and far reaching Native American and international indigenous issues that receive relatively little discussion at APSA (and in the Political science profession) outside of NASA sessions. This is an important set of issues in the United States and world wide involving a host of policy areas including issues of sovereignty, federalism, human rights, human condition and the providing of services as well as questions of the legal and political status of indigenous groups and institutions, and the well being of aboriginal people. For example, the United States officially considers 558 federally recognized Indian tribal governments to be governments with which the U.S. government is engaged in government-to-government relations. Yet there is little discussion of the role of tribal governments in American federalism in any professional literature, and discussion of these issues at APSA meetings is extremely rare outside of NASA sessions. Similarly, the standing and condition of Indigenous people and peoples in many nations of the world involves an extremely important set of issues that are raised in few APSA sessions out side of NASA.
2) The study of Traditional Native American and other indigenous politics sheds a great deal of light on the general nature of politics which differs from the wisdom of traditional western political theory. Even though theorists such as Locke, Rousseau and Marx (and a number of the U.S. “founding fathers”) clearly drew on native American political experience in developing their ideas, it is extremely rare for indigenous politics and political thought to be discussed at political theory or comparative politics sessions at APSA, outside of NASA sessions (which in 2000 included one panel relating to this topic). Moreover, traditional American Indian and other indigenous politics are especially relevant today, as many of their elements are increasingly being experimented with and adapted into contemporary political and social institutions and processes. For example, traditional Native American uses of inclusive consensus decision making, involving all interested parties, are increasingly being used to make public policy, resolve disputes and improve administration through the application of work teams and other forms of participatory management. Indeed, Native American approaches to maintaining community harmony through inclusive participatory practices based upon mutual respect may be good models for dealing with diversity in contemporary societies. Yet, these, and other, relevant applications of indigenous principles to contemporary social and political life are rarely discussed at APSA outside of NASA sessions.
3) The traditional values of American Indian people are very much alive today. The struggle of American Indian tribes to overcome the culturally inappropriate institutions that have been imposed upon them and to find appropriate ways to apply traditional values in the conditions of the Twenty-First Century is a topic worthy of consideration at APSA meetings, which NASA helps to illuminate. This is a world wide concern, not only for indigenous people, but for those who deal with them. For example, the failure of UN peace keepers in Somalia to work with local traditional institutions that have survived colonialism doomed their peace building efforts to failure, except in the few striking examples of successes where peace keeping forces in Somalia collaborated with indigenous people and institutions.
4) Even when the above, and other, aboriginal concerns and issues are adequately discussed in regular sections, it will remain important for there to be a place where scholars interested in indigenous politics can come together to dialogue and network about their concerns. It should be noted, that when sessions discussing indigenous issues at APSA meetings are not scheduled at the same time (as has occurred three times in the last three years), they usually involve at least 16 people.