The struggle to achieve internal legitimacy for tribal nations

Abstract

ABSTRACTTribal nations have entered an era of nation building or the process by which a native nation enhances its foundational capacity for effective self-governance and self-determination. While many tribal nations have become more economically secure in recent years, legitimacy has remained elusive for some. Successful tribal nations, alongside struggling nations, often endure setbacks as citizens question and critique all actions of the tribal government. Focusing on developing legitimacy-building institutions will assist tribal nations not only gain validity in the eyes of their citizens, but also reconnect with the values of their community. This article suggests that tribal nations should re-evaluate their governing institutions to seek ways to insert culturally relevant legitimacy-building institutions, provides several best practices, and articulates ways in which the discipline of public affairs can help facilitate native nation building.