NATIVE NATION BUILDING TV: Segment 2

Constitutions and Constitutional Reform explores the evidence that strong Native nations require strong foundations, which necessarily require the development of effective, internally created constitutions. It examines the impacts a constitution has on the people it represents, successful reform processes among Native nations, and common features of constitutional reform efforts.

NATIVE NATIONS INITIATIVES FEATURED

Ktunaxa Nation
Ktunaxa dancer
(Courtesy: Ktunaxa Nation)

The Ktunaxa Nation is currently involved in the Treaty-making process with Canada and British Columbia. According to Ktunaxa Chief Sophie Pierre, the treaty process makes it possible to put the “self” back in self-government. In reforming their constitution, the Ktunaxa incorporated their native language and traditional beliefs. Ktunaxa leaders wanted the nation's members to feel that the Ktunaxa constitution reflected their notions of how they should be governed. The Ktunaxa dealt with many difficult constitutional reform issues and realized that there are no perfect answers to constitutional reform, and that the best answers come from within the nation.

To learn more:
Ktunaxa Nation
Ktunaxa Community Development Plan
(Microsoft PowerPoint - 5.4 MB)


Harvard Project Initiative on American Indian Constitutional Reform

The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development launched The Initiative on American Indian Constitutional Reform to assist American Indian nations undertaking or planning constitutional reform. With many Native Nations facing common issues, this initiative serves as a forum where American Indian reform leaders policymakers and researchers work together to develop and share innovative, self-determined strategies for strengthening American Indian constitutions and constitution-making process.

To learn more:
Harvard Project Initiative on American Indian Constitutional Reform
Articles on the 1999 Cherokee Nation Constitution Convention
"Overcoming the Politics of Reform," by Eric Lemont
PDF (122 kb)
"Process of a Sovereign People," by D. Jay Hannah
PDF (9,500 kb)

URL links verified July 8, 2006