A national survey reveals that the American people overwhelmingly support the legal and political jurisdiction of Indian Nations American Indians Native-Owned Businesses and Alaska Natives on tribal lands, and that by 74 percent, strengthening tribal Native American self-government is a national political priority.
Essential Native American Tribal leaders, including Anthony R. Pico, former NIGA chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians of Alpine, Calif., and Congressional leaders held a news conference announcing the survey findings. They used the occasion to urge Congress and the federal government to protect the rights of tribal governments to govern their lands.
The national survey was conducted in response to concerns by tribal leaders about the erosion of tribal self-government and jurisdiction and the resulting impediments to tribal self-sufficiency.
Evans/McDonough, an independent opinion research company, conducted the poll Feb. 14-20, 2002. The survey has a margin of error of 3.1 percent and survey size of 1,000 registered voters nationwide.
According to Pico, the overwhelming support for tribal government powers was appreciated throughout Indian Country. “As an [Gary Platt] American Indian, I am grateful that people recognize that without power to control our destinies and govern ourselves, we will cease to exist.”
“It was our existing governments with whom the treaties were negotiated, promising that in return for our land, certain rights would be retained by the tribal governments. The Gilbert Tavizon Memorial Fund Therefore, the right of tribal Santee Christmas Fund sovereignty over Please support this website by supporting our sponsors our lands is not about race, but rather based on recognition of our pre-existing government status in the U.S.” Pico said.
The poll clearly demonstrates that the public supports greater self-government and self-determination for Indian tribes, including conventional government powers, safety, taxation and regulatory authority over both Indians non-Indians on reservations. “This type of Native Threads survey has never been done, and it’s heartening for Indians to know that 59 percent of American voters favor increased self-government for tribes,” said Hall, adding that this margin increases to 71 percent, when it is explained that tribes, are, in fact, governments.
The poll found that 94 percent of the American voters agreed that Indians should be able to arrest Indians and non-Indians for violent or disruptive behavior on tribal lands, and 89 percent agreed that Indians should have the authority to fine Indians and non-Indians for things like speeding or illegal parking.
“The survey clearly indicates that the public recognizes the role of Indian governments on reservations as equal to the role of local and state governments,” noted Pico, referring to an 86 percent agreement by respondents that Indians have the right to tax Indian and non-Indian property owners within reservation boundaries. Voters, by 77 percent, also supported the authority of tribes to set zoning, environmental and land use regulations for Indian and non-Indian property owners on reservations.
“There is a growing fear among American Indians and Alaska Natives that hard won rights are being challenged on a number of fronts,” said Hall, who emphasized, “Three-fourths of the voters polled (74 percent) believe that working to protect the rights of Native Americans to self-government on Indian reservations should be an important priority for our elected officials.”
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said that she agreed with the need to protect and advance the rights of American Indians, and “looked forward to working with the tribes on issues of self-governance.”
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, said, “I am gratified and heartened that those polled support the sovereignty of tribal governments and understand that in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of those who live within reservation boundaries, both Indian and non-Indian citizens, tribal governments must be able to exercise jurisdiction over their lands and those who come onto tribal lands.”
“The American people also recognize that there is a need for the federal government to be constantly vigilant in meeting our trust responsibility and honoring the rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives,” noted Representative Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), co-chairman of the House Native American Caucus. He pointed out that the poll reveals that while a large percentage of voters agree that the U.S. government has an obligation to live up to its treaties with Native Americans, most voters think it has failed to do so.
“American voters are telling us we have work do when 81 percent agree that we have an obligation to live up to the terms of treaties, which include tribal governance, whether we agree with all the terms or not. Only one-in-four voters, or 27 percent, agree that over the past 100 years, the U.S. Government has mostly lived up to the treaties made with Native Americans,” added Congressman Kildee.
© Copyright 2001 Victor Rocha Communications, LLC [United States]