The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-12-21
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS


have had their tribal govern
ments formalized under provi-
sions of the Indian Reorganiza-
ton Act of 1894. These political
units vary widely In size and
completely. At one end of the
scale Is the Navajo tribal govern
ment which in expenditures, per-
sonnet and diversity of functions
surpasses many county govern
ments. At the other end are the
governing bodies of small tribes
in the Great Basin, the Pacific
Northwest and the Great Lakes
areas which have only handful
of elected officials, no tribal bud
gets and very little authority.
Just as they have formalized
their government, many of these
tribes have awaited themselves
of the opportunity under Ira.
legislation to incorporate for
business purposes. In most cases,
business and political activities
are carried on by the same trib-
al officials and administrative ex-
penses are met by tribal enter
prises rather than by taxation.
In addition to varying greatly
in size and complexity, tribal
governing bodies differ marked
ly among themselves in their eff
ficiency and responsiveness to
the will of the electorate. A spe-
cific complaint against tribal gov
eminent which the Task Force
heard from both Indians and nom
Indians is that many tribes either
have no constitutional directives
to extend the guarantees of the
Bill of Rights and the 14th
Amendment to those within their
jurisdiction, or, IL they have
them, they ignore them. This mat
ter has been alluded to, and a
recommendation offered, in the
section of the present report deal
ing with law and order.
From comments which they
heard everywhere - in Indian
country as well as in Washing
ton-the Task Force gained the
impression that some of the trib-
al governments are plagued by
nepotism, autocracy and chron-
ic shortage of funds. However,
we do not feel this observation
constitutes grounds for attacking
the existence of tribal govern
ments. AS a matter of fact, the
most successful Bureau programs
were invariably found to be OPP
Grating on reservations which had
sound bodies composed of dedi.
Gated able leaders. Improvement
Is needed in existing govern
ments, an accomplishment which
will almost certainly require the
sympathetic help of the Secretary
of the Interior IL II is to be pro-
vided quickly and effectively.
The Task Force strongly rec
ommends that the responsible
unit of the Bureau of Indian AT
fairs begin an immediate review
of the constitutions of Indian
tribes to determine the most sig
nificant deficiencies in these doc
uments and make recommend
tons to the tribes for overcom-
ing them. Such matters as civil
rights, adequate election macHil-
cry and accounting procedures
should be given special attention.
One suggestion which the De
partment can make Immediately
to tribal officials is that they
take greater advantage of their
taxing authority. In this fashion,
they can secure additional rev.
enue for running their govern
ments and, at the same time,
acquaint their members with one
of the more important RESPONSE
bilities of citizenship in a de-
mocracy. In its travels, the Task
Force learned of one Southwest
ern tribe which has scarcely
enough funds to pay the small
salary of its Chairman, yet which
allows several prosperous Indian
cattlemen to pasture their herds
on tribally owned land without
paying any grazing fees. So long
as tribe refuses to use its own
assets for helping its members.
II can anticipate Congressional
reluctance to appropriate money
In its behalf.
II may be assumed that as res
ervation resources are developed
and individual income and prop
erty holdings increase, taxation
can provide a basic source of
revenue for operating reservation
governments This will make il
easier to separate the business
OF political functions now Jointly
exercised by tribal governing
bodies. At present, this dual re-
sponsibility Is factor which
hinders many reservations from
becoming politically integrated
with the States and counties of
which they form part.
The Task Force points out that
some Of the present programs