NATIVE NATION BUILDING TV: Segment 10

Moving Towards Nation Building contrasts the two approaches to indigenous governance — the standard approach and the nation-building approach — and discusses how a growing number of Native nations are moving towards nation building. It provides specific examples of how the keys to nation-building bring wide-ranging benefits to Native communities.

NATIVE NATIONS INITIATIVES FEATURED

The Crow Tribe of Montana

The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) is an innovative example of how Native nations can unite to advance their common economic development and governance goals. In 1981, nine First Nations of the Meadow Lake District (MLFN) in Saskatchewan, Canada banded together to form the Meadow Lake District Chiefs Joint Venture, which soon became known as the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. Formed to pool financial and human resources in order to develop economic ventures that could sustain their member communities, MLTC consists of the Birch Narrows Dene Nation, Buffalo River Dene Nation, Canoe Lake Cree Nation, Clearwater River Dene Nation, English River First Nation, Flying Dust First Nation, Island Lake First Nation, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation and Waterhen Lake First Nation.

MLTC's governing body is composed of the chief of each of its Member First Nations and by the Tribal Leadership, which consists of three elected officials who serve as political advocates. MLTC's Tribal Leadership and the nine chiefs develop work plans, create programs and deliver services according to the needs of their communities. The Elders Advisory Council of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council ensures that elders have a voice in council decisions. With representatives from each First Nation, they provide the MLTC with traditional knowledge and spiritual teachings.

(photo) Welder trainee Roy Fiddler takes part in Meadow Lake's industrial training program. (Courtesy: Meadow Lake Tribal Council)

MLTC has created a diverse portfolio of successful economic ventures, from forestry to energy to shipping to agriculture to real estate. At the heart of its economic development initiatives is its “anchor and satellite” strategy—using their council-owned enterprises to contract with smaller enterprises owned and operated by citizens of their member nations, thus broadening the economic impact of their development efforts.

Meanwhile, in 2001, a Comprehensive Agreement-in-Principle and Tripartite Agreement-in-Principle was signed between seven of the Meadow Lake First Nations, MLTC, Canada and Saskatchewan granting rights of self-government to each MLFN. Constitutional development committees have been formed by each First Nation, who currently are developing governing documents that will fit the needs of their communities.

Links
Meadow Lake Tribal Council
Report: "The Case of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council"
Agreements-in-Principle signed by Meadow Lake First Nations
Article: "Control of Local Sawmill Granted to Tribal Council"

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation demonstrate how the effective assertion of sovereignty—backed up by sound institutions of self-governance—can empower Native nations to meet their community and economic development goals. In the early 1990s, there were few jobs at Fort McDowell and many Yavapais lived without running water and electricity. Today, the Yavapai Nation is thriving, in large part due to its unrelenting struggle to take charge of its own future.

In 1992, the Yavapai were involved in a months-long standoff with federal authorities who began seizing gaming machines from the tribe's bingo center. Yavapai citizens erected a blockade using construction equipment and cars in order to prevent the authorities from removing the machines from the reservation. The federal government finally relented, a victory which propelled the Yavapai Nation down the path of sustainable development. Another key step in that process involved governmental reform. In 1999, with future generations of Yavapai in mind, the Nation initiated a comprehensive overhaul of its constitutional, moving from two-year, non-staggered terms for its elected leadership to four-year, staggered terms in order to bring more institutional stability and effectiveness to their government.

This move has yielded tangible benefits both in terms of reservation economic development and tribal service delivery. For example, the 'Hmañ 'shawa Elementary School, a private school funded entirely by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, is designed to serve the educational needs of the Nation's young children by focusing on tribal culture and language revitalization. Meanwhile, the Nation also has developed a diverse array of tribal enterprises, including the Fort McDowell Casino, Fort McDowell Yavapai Materials, Fort McDowell Farm, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Radisson Fort McDowell, Radisson Poco Diablo Resort, Fort McDowell Adventures, and Fort McDowell RV Park.

Links
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Article: "Tribe's March Will Recall ‘92 Standoff Over Gaming"
Article: "Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Expand Golf Course"
Article: "For Yavapai Students, Skipping Class is Fines"
Article: "Arizona Tribe Busy with Expansion of Economy"
Article: "Fort McDowell Yavapai Celebrate Sovereignty"
Report: "One Tribe Beats the Odd" PDF(1.4 MB)

URL links verified June 30, 2006