I enjoyed reading the editorial, ”Stability, consensus required for good tribal government” [Vol. 27, Iss. 41].
I wear two hats for my tribe – tribal chairman and tribal consultant. As tribal chairman and a member of a non-federally recognized tribe, we have a chance to develop our tribal government without the forced tribal council and elections structures of the BIA. We also have the need to work by consensus and offer good continuity of our strategies and long-term operations and nation-building activities. Recently, I have been taking a course at University of California – Los Angeles titled ”Nation Building in Indian Country,” taught by former San Manuel Tribal Chairman Deron Marquez. He has certainly promoted many of the concepts discussed in the editorial.
As a tribal consultant working for many tribes in gaming, economic development and information technology strategic planning and organizational assessments, it never ceases to amaze me the common threads of restriction and lack of trust that can exist within a tribe due to long-term poor governance structures and policies. Many tribes with new funding opportunities are making their way back to traditional governance and working more by consensus and for their tribal members’ long-term sustainable future.
Take care and keep up the great work. My mother used to type up stencils for ”Smoke Signals,” one of the first national Indian newspapers, based in Sacramento during the 1950s – 70s. I know the value of Indian newspapers.
– Donna Begay,
tribal chairmanTubatulabals of Kern Valleypresident and CEO, NAVA TechLake Isabella, Calif.