Tribal Politics (PS 3193)

Tribal Politics

Comparative Analysis of Indigenous Governments

Instructions

You are required to write a research paper about the following:

1. Any US Federally Recognized Tribe (including Alaska Natives) and
2. Any other indigenous group (including but not limited to: another Federally Recognized Tribe (or Alaskan Native Corporation), a Canadian First Nations Government, Tribe, or Band, Indigenous Hawaiians, any Indigenous Group of Oceana, or any other Indigenous group, band, or governmental/semi-governmental organization)

Your paper must include the following elements:

1. The paper should include an overview of the governmental structures of the two entities you have selected, including:

• How are governance bodies structured? Who are the leaders (do they have a chief, a chairman, a governor, etc.? Do they have a tribal council, legislature, etc.?)
• How are leaders elected/selected, and who gets to vote?
• To what extent does the National or local Government recognize this entity, and what legal and political authority do they have in the broader National or local Governmental structure?
• A major focus of this section should also be on how governance and political structures have changed over time, from before colonization to the present.

2. The paper should also include a summary of the entities’ histories, including:

• Where is the group originally from? Were they removed to a different location? (If so, when and how were they removed?)
  • How do the original homelands differ from where they are currently?
  • Do the groups have a reservation or any other such set-aside lands?
• What important historical events impacted the group’s government and political structures?

3. The paper should also include an overview of the Tribes’/groups’/entities’ cultures. What the tribes’ culture is could be open-ended and include things like important cultural or spiritual practices, use of clan systems, etc., particularly in regard to culturally significant values and practices that may be reflected in governmental structures.

4. Finally, the paper should include a discussion comparing and contrasting the differences between the governmental structures and the legal and political influence of the

groups/entities and how their histories, locations, and traditional practices and values may have contributed to these differences and/or similarities.

Length: 8 pages minimum

Specifications: 12-point any standard font, double-spaced.

Sources/Citations: You may use any standard citation format that uses in-line citations. You MUST use in-line citations and provide a citation list at the end of the paper.

You are required to have at least 5 different sources, including at least one scholarly article or book.

You may gather your information from various sources, including tribal websites, government websites, tribal and federal government publications, periodicals, academic journals, books, laws, constitutions, Tribal Resolutions, and oral histories.

Please note that Wikipedia is not an acceptable source to cite.

Bonus Points: If you submit via email an outline of your paper, you will receive 10 bonus points on your paper grade.