Since the time before time, Indian nations have been independent, self-governing nations. Our native peoples developed advanced agriculture, green architecture, self-sufficient economies, and managed wide-ranging trade networks. When the United States came to our lands, they found healthy Native communities farming fertile river valleys, hunting teeming lands, and trading across Native nations from the heartland to the coasts.
In the earliest treaties and enactments, the United States pledged to respect Indian rights and protect Indian nations. Treaties, agreements and executive orders set apart our tribal lands to serve as “permanent homelands” for our people, even as we made room for our new neighbors. The United States’ promise of undisturbed “permanent homelands” was that our reservations would be livable homelands. In the 19th century, the United States strayed from its original path of respect for Native societies, destroyed tribal economies and tried to forcibly assimilate Native peoples. That left us destitute for generations.
Today, through the Indian Self-Determination Policy and renewal of our government-to-government relations the United States has taken the first steps down the path of respect for Native nations and indigenous communities. There is much that needs to be done to restore tribal governments to the thriving, self-sustaining Native economies that graced our lands before the coming of the United States.
As our new leader and the symbol of hope for respect of human rights throughout the world, President Obama has acknowledged American Indians have been wronged many times in the past and has pledged to turn the page to a time of “respect for Indian sovereignty.” To give true meaning to his pledges, President Obama must develop policies and seek legislation to recognize the sovereign authority of Native nations to manage our own economic activity on our Indian lands. That means:
• The president should declare that the policy of the United States is to respect Indian sovereignty and honor Indian treaties;
• The president should declare that Native nations are full members of the family of American governments and that means our Native nations have authority to tax, regulate commerce and govern economic activity on Indian lands;
• The president should establish an Office of Tribal Government in the Office of the Secretary at the Treasury, Commerce and State Departments;
• The president and Congress must include Native nations in infrastructure, energy and economic development measures to stimulate the national economy, and that means inclusion in school construction, health care facilities, water and sanitation systems, bridge and highway construction, community development financing, government bonds and development zones, among other things;
• Native nations have been leaders in conventional oil and gas production and the administration should lift the dual burdens of state and federal taxation from the production of tribal natural resources;
• Native nations in the West have the potential to be the Saudi Arabia’s of wind, solar and renewable energy and the administration must include Native nations in green energy development;
• Under executive authority, the Department of the Interior must immediately transfer to Native nations the responsibility to administer business licenses on Indian lands;
• The administration should develop legislation that restores the tribal taxation and regulatory authority for Indian commerce on our reservation lands;
• Land is an essential element for economic development and the administration must streamline the process for re-acquisition of tribal lands – the process for de-acquisition required only the stroke of a pen – the process of restoration should not take generations;
• Stable law enforcement and justice systems are also essential to strong economic development – the administration should immediately delegate law enforcement authority over all persons on tribal lands to tribal law enforcement agencies and introduce legislation to provide comprehensive support for tribal justice systems; and
• The administration must treat Indian tribes as Native nations in federal labor, regulatory and taxation legislation and must follow a policy to guard our Native sovereignty, just as the United States respects and guards state and national sovereignty.
President Obama said the U.S. and states must emerge stronger after the current economic downturn, and so must our Native nations emerge stronger, more competitive and more self-sustaining.
Just as the United States builds for a brighter tomorrow, Native nations seek to ensure a more promising life for our future generations. Native nations are part of the life blood of the United States, and the president must acknowledge us, respect us and plan for us as “permanent” governmental partners in America’s 21st century economic, social and cultural horizons.
Ivan Makil is the past president of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Founding Partner of Generation Seven Strategic Partners, LLC.
