Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed
The landmark Indian Reorganization Act was meant to move tribes away from the governmental policies of forced assimilation towards self-determination. It ended allotment, renewed tribes’ control over their own assets, and encouraged tribes to establish constitutions. John Collier authored the law as Commissioner of the Indian Bureau, which eventually became the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His ideas, like reversing the federal government’s assimilationist policies, were considered radical in 1935. Some historians also believe he romanticized Native American culture, and considered it superior to his own. We’ll discuss Collier’s influence and recognize the Indian Reorganization Act’s ongoing effect as it turns 85.
Guests:
Dr. David Wilkins (Lumbee Nation) – professor of Native Studies at the University of Richmond
Cris Stainbrook (Oglala Lakota) – President of the Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Break 1 Music: Yo-Ho-Ho-Eo (song) Jim Boyd (artist) Going To The Stick Games (album)
Break 2 Music: High Above The Eagle Soars (song) Blackstone (artist) On The Oregon Trail (album)
It was good to hear David and Chris discuss the IRA. Despite its problems, with the limitations imposed by Congress, and in implementation for many years by the BIA, it was an advance, that numerous Indian nations have been building on, while struggling to overcome its difficulties and other problems.
Concerning the IRA governments of many Indian nations, while each case is different, in general their form was, and often remains remains, in conflict with most traditional tribal cultures. Moreover in many cases their structure has been deficient even in western terms, particularly for the many nations that have not established independent tribal courts. The inherent problems of many IRA governments have been compounded by the unresolved historical trauma suffered by many Native people, and for many years by the limiting administration of the BIA and a lack of effective tribal sovereignty, as well as other factors, All of this is discussed holistically in LaDonna Harris, Mentor and Editor; Stephen M. Sachs and Barbara Morris, General Authors, Recreating the Circle: The Renewal of Indian Self Determination (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2011).
Chapter 4 focusses on the problems of IRA governments (and others influenced in establishing their structures by IRA government) and what a number of Indian nations have been undertaking to overcome those problems, either by transforming government processes themselves, and/or by developing community processes as inputs into tribal government decision making. I have tried to follow as many of these continuing efforts as possible and am happy to share my writings and information I have about them, which I can do as E-mail attachments.. I also invite others to share their own experience or knowledge of work toward improving tribal governance, and when wanted, I am happy to make such sharings available on the web in the pages of the journal, Indigenous Policy (www.indigenouspolicy.org).
May all move in beauty.
Steve (Stephen M. Sachs), Professor Emeritus of Political Science, IUPUI; Senior Editor, Indigenous Policy, ssachs@earthlink.net.