First Nations Governance

This project brought together six Canadian Aboriginal leaders to share best practices for administration and governance, with a focus on accountability in a North American context. The three week study tour showcased important government initiatives, academic institutions, and community organizations that support self-governance on Native American Reservations. In Washington, DC the leaders interacted with delegates of the National Congress of American Indians; they got an overview of trends in Native American economic development and they examined the relationship between federal, state, local and tribal governments in the U.S. system. From Washington, they travelled to Los Angeles, where they met with several community-based organizations and visited the Soboba Reservation. In Tulsa, they explored Muscogee Creek Nation governance and society, including tribal law, economic development, and media in the tribal system. The Santa Fe portion of the trip included an overview of the Pueblo communities, with a focus on tourism and contemporary arts education with indigenous influences. During the final city visit to Boise, the group studied Shoshone-Bannock tribal governance and issues related to access to education and employment.