Native American Tribes Research Articles

Evaluating Institutional Success: Regional Water Agreements with Tribal Nations

Abstract Since the early 1900s, U.S. national, tribal, and state institutions have been addressing conflicts over water entitlements of Native American tribes. The resulting regional water agreements encompass ensuring tribal access to water, defining entitlements for reliable future access, and providing environmental and financial benefits. Identifying approaches to evaluating institutional success in these regional water agreements is useful for effectively addressing current and future water disputes. This article discusses characteristics of eight water agreements that have occurred in the Southwestern United States, applying five economic criteria to evaluate success. The evaluation suggests that newer agreements perform better on the economic criteria, implying that learning about effective agreements is occurring over time. As threats to water quality and quantity intensify worldwide, understanding what contributes to successful regional water agreements becomes increasingly urgent.

A sociocultural approach to understanding collective trauma in Indigenous communities.

Research on the effects of collective trauma tends to take a psychocentric approach, focusing on the impact of being geographically near the traumatic event (physical proximity) or personally knowing a victim (social proximity). We theorize that this approach falls short in describing the effect of collective trauma among interdependent cultural groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, for whom the self and one's group are inextricably tied. Using a concurrent embedded mixed-methods design (N = 545), the current study explores the influence of cultural proximity (having a shared cultural connection to victims) in the wake of a fatal school shooting involving students from both a Native American tribe and a predominantly White city. After controlling for physical and social proximity, student distress behaviors and staff support behaviors, but not staff members' own psychological distress, were significantly higher in schools with higher Native student populations, where a larger proportion of students shared cultural connections with the victims. We discuss implications regarding the importance of providing adequate support for Indigenous Peoples, and interdependent cultural groups in general, following collective trauma.

Public health use and lessons learned from a statewide SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring program (MiNET)

The global SARS-CoV-2 monitoring effort has been extensive, resulting in many states and countries establishing wastewater-based epidemiology programs to address the spread of the virus during the pandemic. Challenges for programs include concurrently optimizing methods, training new laboratories, and implementing successful surveillance programs that can rapidly translate results for public health, and policy making. Surveillance in Michigan early in the pandemic in 2020 highlights the importance of quality-controlled data and explores correlations with wastewater and clinical case data aggregated at the state level. The lessons learned and potential measures to improve public utilization of results are discussed.The Michigan Network for Environmental Health and Technology (MiNET) established a network of laboratories that partnered with local health departments, universities, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and other stakeholders to monitor SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at 214 sites in Michigan. MiNET consisted of nineteen laboratories, twenty-nine local health departments, 6 Native American tribes, and 60 WWTPs monitoring sites representing 45 % of Michigan's population from April 6 and December 29, 2020. Three result datasets were created based on quality control criteria. Wastewater results that met all quality assurance criteria (Dataset Mp) produced strongest correlations with reported clinical cases at 16 days lag (rho = 0.866, p < 0.05).The project demonstrated the ability to successfully track SARS-CoV-2 on a large, state-wide scale, particularly data that met the outlined quality criteria and provided an early warning of increasing COVID-19 cases. MiNET is currently poised to leverage its competency to complement public health surveillance networks through environmental monitoring for new and emerging pathogens of concern and provides a valuable resource to state and federal agencies to support future responses.

Monitoring questing winter tick abundance on traditional moose hunting lands

AbstractAn important symbolic and subsistence animal for many Native American Tribes, the moose (Alces alces; mos in Algonquin, Penobscot language) has been under consistent threat in the northeastern United States because of winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) parasitism over the past several decades, causing declines in moose populations throughout the region. This decline has raised concern for Tribes and agencies that are invested in moose. Given this concern, it is increasingly important to effectively monitor and develop strategies to manage winter ticks to address consistent population declines of moose due to winter ticks. The Penobscot Nation developed a novel strategy to sample questing winter ticks (i.e., ticks that are actively seeking hosts) using a plot‐based sampling protocol that may be suitable for heterogeneous habitats. We deployed this protocol in the northeastern United States in 2022 during the tick questing period (Sep–Dec) on Penobscot Nation sovereign trust lands, the White Mountain National Forest and Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and western‐central Massachusetts, USA. We analyzed the data using occupancy and N‐mixture models. Detection probability peaked during mid‐October and tick occupancy and abundance were greatest at sites with intermediate understory vegetation height. The sampling protocol was successful at sampling ticks in Massachusetts, where abundances were expected to be low, indicating that it may be useful for studies planning to monitor winter tick distribution and abundance in areas with sub‐optimal moose habitat and where winter tick abundance is expected to be low. This approach may also benefit managers or researchers intending to monitor many species of hard ticks, and where imperfect detection is expected.

STAC3 disorder: a common cause of congenital hypotonia in Southern African patients.

STAC3 disorder, or Native American myopathy, is characterised by congenital myopathy, hypotonia, musculoskeletal and palatal anomalies, and susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia. A STAC3 c.851 G > C (p.Trp284Ser) pathogenic variant, common in the Lumbee Native American tribe, has been identified in other populations worldwide, including patients of African ancestry. We report on the frequency of STAC3 c.851 G > C in a cohort of 127 patients presenting with congenital hypotonia that tested negative for spinal muscular atrophy and/or Prader-Willi syndrome. We present a clinical retrospective, descriptive review on 31 Southern African patients homozygous for STAC3 c.851 G > C. The frequencies of various phenotypic characteristics were calculated. In total, 25/127 (20%) laboratory-based samples were homozygous for STAC3 c.851 G > C. A carrier rate of 1/56 and a predicted birth rate of 1/12 500 was estimated from a healthy cohort. A common haplotype spanning STAC3 was identified in four patients. Of the clinical group, 93% had a palatal abnormality, 52% a spinal anomaly, 59% had talipes equinovarus deformity/deformities, 38% had arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, and 22% had a history suggestive of malignant hyperthermia. The novel finding that STAC3 disorder is a common African myopathy has important clinical implications for the diagnosis, treatment and genetic counselling of individuals, with neonatal and/or childhood hypotonia with or without arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, and their families. The spread of this variant worldwide and the allele frequency higher in the African/African-American ancestry than the Admixed Americans, strongly indicates that the STAC3 c.851 G > C variant has an African origin which may be due to anancient mutation with migration and population bottlenecks.

Social Determinants of Health Among American Indians and Alaska Natives and Tribal Communities: Comparison with Other Major Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States, 1990-2022.

Limited research exists on health inequities between American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs), tribal communities, and other population groups in the United States. To address this gap in research, we conducted time-trend analyses of social determinants of health and disease outcomes for AIANs as a whole and specific tribal communities and compared them with those from the other major racial/ethnic groups. We used data from the 1990-2022 National Vital Statistics System, 2015-2022 American Community Survey, and the 2018-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to examine socioeconomic, health, disability, disease, and mortality patterns for AIANs. In 2021, life expectancy at birth was 70.6 years for AIANs, lower than that for Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs) (84.1), Hispanics (78.8), and non-Hispanic Whites (76.3). All racial/ethnic groups experienced a decline in life expectancy between the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and the peak pandemic year of 2021. However, the impact of COVID-19 was the greatest for AIANs and Blacks whose life expectancy decreased by 6.3 and 5.8 years, respectively. The infant mortality rate for AIANs was 8.5 per 1,000 live births, 78% higher than the rate for non-Hispanic Whites. One in five AIANs assessed their physical and mental health as poor, at twice the rate of non-Hispanic Whites or the general population. COVID-19 was the leading cause of death among AIANs in 2021. Risks of mortality from alcohol-related problems, drug overdose, unintentional injuries, and homicide were higher among AIANs than the general population. AIANs had the highest overall disability, mental and ambulatory disability, health uninsurance, unemployment, and poverty rates, with differences in these indicators varying markedly across the AIAN tribes. AIANs remain a disadvantaged racial/ethnic group in the US in many health and socioeconomic indicators, with poverty rates in many Native American tribal groups and reservations exceeding 40%.

Cultural Parallels and Unique Features Kyrgyz and Native Americans: Comparative Analysis

This paper examines the cultural parallels and unique features of Kyrgyz people and Native Americans, shedding light on the remarkable similarities and differences that define these two distinct indigenous groups. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this study examines the historical, social, and cultural aspects of both Native Americans and Kyrgyz, seeking to unravel the complexity of their traditions, beliefs, and practices. The study reveals striking parallels between spiritual beliefs and reverence for nature that are deeply rooted in both cultures. The symbolic significance of animals, the spiritual connection to the earth, and the practice of traditional healing techniques reflect a shared appreciation of the natural world and a harmonious relationship with the environment. Moreover, oral traditions and stories from both groups serve as vital channels for preserving cultural heritage and passing ancestral wisdom from one generation to the next. On the other hand, the unique traits of each culture are revealed through the study of their artistic expressions, linguistic diversity and social structures. The nomadic heritage of the Kyrgyz has shaped their customs and folklore, while the diverse linguistic traditions and artistic skills of Native American tribes demonstrate the richness of their cultural traditions. In addition, the impact of historical and contemporary influences on both groups is examined to elucidate the resilience and adaptation of their cultural identities. The enduring legacy of colonialism and the persistence of indigenous knowledge in the face of contemporary challenges provide a critical backdrop for understanding the dynamic nature of Native American and Kyrgyz cultures. By contrasting these cultural characteristics, this comparative analysis aims to foster a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of global indigenous communities while respecting the distinctiveness of their heritage. Ultimately, this study aims to stimulate intercultural dialogue and promote mutual understanding by highlighting the richness of human diversity and the enduring spirit of resilience of indigenous peoples.

Why Craniofacial Surgeons/Researchers Need to be Aware of Native American Myopathy?

Congenital myopathy type 13 (CMYO13), also known as Native American myopathy, is a rare muscle disease characterized by early-onset hypotonia, muscle weakness, delayed motor milestones, and susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia. The phenotypic spectrum of congenital myopathy type 13 is expanding, with milder forms reported in non-native American patients. The first description of the disease dates to 1987 when Bailey and Bloch described an infant belonging to a Native American tribe with cleft palate, micrognathia, arthrogryposis, and general-anesthesia-induced malignant hyperthermia reaction; the cause of the latter remains poorly defined in this rare disease. The pan-ethnic distribution, as well as its predisposition to malignant hyperthermia, makes the identification of CMYO13 essential to avoid life-threatening, anesthesia-related complications. In this article, we are going to review the clinical phenotype of this disease and the pathophysiology of this rare disease with a focus on two unique features of the disease, namely cleft palate and malignant hyperthermia. We also highlight the importance of recognizing this disease's expanding phenotypic spectrum-including its susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia-and providing appropriate care to affected individuals and families.

Mateo Tepe or Devils Tower: Native and Tourist Differences in Geosite Interpretations

Devils Tower is located in Wyoming, USA. It is composed of volcanic elements from the Tertiary Period of geologic time. Geologists are interested in this geosite because it is a unique, upstanding, steep-sided, high-relief exhumed Tertiary-age volcanic plug. As a Native American cultural geosite, however, it is often called Mateo Tepe, and it is a sacred place to over 20 Native American tribes. It was inscribed as America’s first national monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, because of its special geology. It is visually dramatic due to its columns, which are understood by earth scientists as a wonder of geology but by Native people as the claw scratches of a spiritual bear. These vertical cracks are the focus of rock climbers and Native people, respectively as opportunities for adventure and self-fulfillment and spiritual paths to another dimension and the achievement of religious balance in the world. Mateo Tepe became a national monument due to it being a unique geologic feature. The geopark concept is used in this analysis to talk about this geologically based monument.

Assembly and analysis of the genome of Notholithocarpus densiflorus.

Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) is an evergreen tree in the Fagaceae family found in California and southern Oregon. Historically, tanoak acorns were an important food source for Native American tribes, and the bark was used extensively in the leather tanning process. Long considered a disjunct relictual element of the Asian stone oaks (Lithocarpus spp.), phylogenetic analysis has determined that the tanoak is an example of convergent evolution. Tanoaks are deeply divergent from oaks (Quercus) of the Pacific Northwest and comprise a new genus with a single species. These trees are highly susceptible to "sudden oak death" (SOD), a plant pathogen (Phytophthora ramorum) that has caused widespread deaths of tanoaks. In this study, we set out to assemble the genome and perform comparative studies among a number of individuals that demonstrated varying levels of susceptibility to SOD. First, we sequenced and de novo assembled a draft reference genome of N. densiflorus using cobarcoded library processing methods and an MGI DNBSEQ-G400 sequencer. To increase the contiguity of the final assembly, we also sequenced Oxford Nanopore long reads to 30× coverage. To our knowledge, the draft genome reported here is one of the more contiguous and complete genomes of a tree species published to date, with a contig N50 of ∼1.2 Mb, a scaffold N50 of ∼2.1 Mb, and a complete gene score of 95.5% through BUSCO analysis. In addition, we sequenced 11 genetically distinct individuals and mapped these onto the draft reference genome, enabling the discovery of almost 25 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and ∼4.4 million small insertions and deletions. Finally, using cobarcoded data, we were able to generate a complete haplotype coverage of all 11 genomes.

Faulkner’s Renewal of the Figure of the Grizzly Bear in the American West: From Ancestor to Political Symbol

The role of the grizzly bear in many Native American tribes has had a tremendous cultural, spiritual and ecological significance, which was objected by the colonisers’ anthropocentric conception of wildlife as an instrumental value to humans. Literature has been one of the main sources to find traces of this Native American conception of the grizzly bear as deity as well as the colonists’ perspective of the nonhuman animal as threat to be tamed. In this article, I will analyse some folk tales and William Faulkner’s “The Bear” (1942) in order to demonstrate the existence of this conception of the grizzly bear in the American West, as well as the importance of literature for its perpetuation.

The Essential Oil of Balsamorhiza sagittata from Southwestern Idaho: Chemical Composition and Enantiomeric Distribution

Background/Objective: Arrowleaf balsamroot ( Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt., Asteraceae) is a conspicuous forb growing in open hillsides and prairies at mid to upper elevations in the Intermountain West and Rocky Mountain regions. The plant is important forage for deer and elk and several Native American tribes used arrowleaf balsamroot as food and medicine. The volatile phytochemicals of B. sagittata have not been previously examined. Methods/Results: Nine individual samples of B. sagittata were collected, the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation using a Likens-Nickerson apparatus in yields of 0.069-0.956%, and the essential oils analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques (GC-MS, GC-FID, and chiral GC-MS). The major components in the leaf essential oil of B. sagittata were (−)-germacrene D (10.8-34.5%), (+)-β-phellandrene (6.4-19.4%), (−)-( E)-β-caryophyllene (1.4-15.0%), and ( E)-β-ocimene (3.1-8.4%). Conclusion: There was modest variation in composition or yield with respect to geographical location or elevation in the samples from southwestern Idaho, but comparison with essential oils from locations outside of Idaho should more completely define the volatile phytochemistry of this plant.

Bringing partners together: A symposium on native lampreys and the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative

Impact statementA symposium at the 2023 American Fisheries Society meeting highlighted collaborations among biologists, policymakers, and Native American tribes addressing conservation for native lampreys. We present key findings from the symposium and related research and an example of grassroots effort to protect and restore Pacific Lamprey.

Racial Disparities in Family Income, Assets, and Liabilities: A Century After the 1921 Tulsa Massacre

AbstractThis paper examines the financial health of racial-ethnic groups in Tulsa, Oklahoma, nearly a century after the 1921 Tulsa Massacre. We use data from the Tulsa National Asset Scorecard for Communities of Color (NASCC) survey to assess the financial health of two demographic groups that were historically the victims of racial violence - Native Americans and Black Americans. Specifically, we investigate financial outcomes a century after these groups made significant economic gains during the Tulsa oil boom in the early 1900 s and were subsequently victimized by racial violence. We find that Black households have statistically significantly less wealth and income than Whites in Tulsa. Our decomposition analysis shows household demographic differences between Blacks and Whites largely do not explain these wealth and income gaps, suggestive of historical discrimination. While in the case of the Native American tribes and Whites, the findings generally show no statistical significance. Compared to other NASCC-surveyed cities that did not experience destruction to the level of the Tulsa Massacre, the Black-White wealth and income gaps and the unexplained portion of the decompositions are the largest in Tulsa. Our results provisionally suggest that past exposure to racial violence can have long-term effects on the economic outcomes of the affected groups decades later.

The case for basinwide passage and habitat restoration for Pacific Lamprey in the Willamette River basin (Oregon, USA)

AbstractObjectiveThe Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus is an anadromous fish that provides many ecosystem services and is important to Native American tribes, which harvest lamprey for cultural uses. The largest harvest of adult Pacific Lamprey in North America occurs at Willamette Falls (WF) in Oregon, USA. Lamprey have experienced conservation problems for decades, and harvest numbers at WF have plummeted approximately 33‐fold from a maximum of over 500,000 during 1946 to an average of about 16,000 per year during 1969–1999. Recent harvest has dropped to less than 6,000 lamprey/year during 2000–2021. However, existing conservation plans do not provide a historical perspective on the lamprey harvest at WF and the cumulative threats in the Willamette River basin that likely caused lamprey harvest reductions. Land development, river impoundment, and water pollution coincided with significant decreases in lamprey harvest at WF. These (and other) threats have resulted in reduced habitat for larval lamprey in the basin and, thus, a reduction in the pheromones they release, which attract adults. Conservation plans do not identify specific, basinwide goals to increase the number of lamprey in general and to provide more lamprey for harvest in particular.MethodsTherefore, in this review paper, we provide a conservation perspective on three topics to increase and monitor lamprey abundance at WF.ResultWe (1) provide an up‐to‐date history of the lamprey harvest and its regulation at WF; (2) recommend addressing the lack of basinwide, lamprey‐specific passage and habitat restoration to improve the quantity and quality of lamprey spawning and rearing habitats; and (3) identify research needs for monitoring the lamprey population(s) at WF.ConclusionWe conclude that lamprey‐specific passage improvements and habitat restoration throughout the Willamette River basin above WF are necessary to bolster abundance.

Oxygen consumption of sexually mature adult, first‐feeding larval, and yearling Pacific Lampreys

AbstractObjectiveThe Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus is considered a first food of Native American tribes, such as the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Populations of this imperiled species have declined such that harvest for traditional use is limited. As a result, propagation and culture of Pacific Lampreys have been initiated to supply animals for restoration and recovery efforts. These efforts require transport and periodic holding of both adults and larvae under static (no‐flow) conditions. Hence, guidelines for ensuring an adequate oxygen supply are needed for all life stages of this species.MethodsWe measured oxygen consumption rates of mature adults, first‐feeding larvae, and yearlings under static conditions at 12–15°C. In addition, we recorded indicators of stress during hypoxia for adults and estimated routine respiration rates during and after larval feeding.ResultAdults exhibited surprisingly high metabolic rates when at rest in static chambers. At 12°C, a single adult typically reduced dissolved oxygen levels in 10 L to &lt;2 mg/L in just 90 min (oxygen consumption rates of 100–200 mg/kg/h). Adults often started to climb the walls of open chambers when dissolved oxygen levels approached 2 mg/L, allowing them to raise their branchiopores into air. Larvae remained quiescent, even when oxygen levels dropped below 1 mg/L, and costs of feeding increased routine respiration by 22–56%.ConclusionBased on these observations, we recommend that adult Pacific Lampreys always be transported in aerated containers and with access to air at the top of the tank. Although larvae exhibited hypoxia tolerance, care should be taken to ensure adequate oxygen availability, particularly during and immediately after feeding.

Why does geography matter in big dam removal projects? Lessons from a comparison between the Sélune and Elwha River cases

The dam removal movement is resulting in numerous projects worldwide, especially in Western countries. Whether completed or in progress, these undertakings often trigger conflict. Nearly 30 years after the initiation of the first major projects, this article examines the conditions for the local appropriation of dam removal projects. From the perspective of two pioneering and emblematic projects in France (Sélune River) and the United States (Elwha River), this article highlights the geographic specificities of dam removal projects carried out in European rural areas. The aim is to discuss how to implement ambitious ecological projects without running the risk of local people losing their sensitive relationship (history, experience, landscape) with the areas once they have been restored. In other words, ecological restoration should not result in a loss of meaning and quality in the relationship between local people and newly restored spaces; it should instead enrich it. In fact, the removal of a dam is not just a technical project; it profoundly affects landscapes, disrupting uses and creating new places. We identify the modalities by which a new space is produced and appropriated by local populations based on a comparison of the relevant spaces (national park vs. rural agricultural space), the populations involved (river users, Native American tribes, residents, and NGOs), and, finally, the governance processes and interactions between expertise and politics, all to highlight the need to take geographical context into account. Based on a detailed knowledge of the formation of the Sélune dam removal project, which has been the subject of continuous participant observation since 2011, we examine these projects’ singularities and commonalities to identify the factors that contribute to their success. This study highlights the importance of the spatial scale at which the dam removal project should be framed, the role of government, and the importance of considering people’s attachment to local places. Finally, this comparison makes recommendations for improving the socio-territorial quality of ecological projects, especially in Europe, with the aim of ensuring their sustainability and success.

THE REPRESENTATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN IN THE LONE RANGER FILM: A GENETIC STRUCTURALISM ANALYSIS

Racism is part of America's dark history. Racism seems to have never been resolved. This article examined how racism is narrated in The Lone Ranger Film. As genetic structuralism studies, The Lone Ranger film is exploited both intrinsically and extrinsically. At first glance, this film features American-Indian characters but with a white character. This is contradictory considering that American Indians are Native American tribes who have colored skin. Therefore, this film is used as an object of study to look at social construction, especially about Native Americans, which actually wants to be conveyed to the wider community, and the empirical reasons for this construction are shown. The research results showed that intrinsically, the character Tonto, played by Johnny Depp (a white), correlated to the economic purpose. As a mass culture, this film was produced to gain profits. choosing John Depp is a form of strategy to achieve the film's success because Johnny Depp is one of the top actors who has many fans. Portraying characters using well-known actors is one of the strategies for achieving the success of a film. Furthermore, this film showed how Native Americans are reconstructed by a new image. White and smart Americans are positive stereotypes. It is contradictive due to This is very contradictory considering that Native Americans are a group that has a negative stereotype. Native Americans are also a minority that experiences a lot of discrimination, especially from white or European-American groups. In conclusion, the stereotype of native Americans in the film Lone Ranger is constructed in different stereotypes showing how the whites (European-Americans) have always occupied a high position in the social strata. This film shows that Native Indians can have the same position in the social strata if their skin is colorless. This makes racism actually perpetuated through this film.

Making Indigenous Religion at the San Francisco Peaks

Navajo claims pertaining to the sacredness of the San Francisco Peaks (as well as those of several other Native American tribes), while no doubt profoundly sincere, are necessarily and strategically positioned in relation to the contemporary legal struggles within which they have arisen. However, I cannot stress too heavily that this should not suggest that their claims are spurious, invented, or in other words “inauthentic.” Greg Johnson asserts that “frequently, the specter against which authenticity is measured is what critics might call “postured tradition,” a shorthand means of suggesting that tradition expressed in political contexts is ‘merely political’” (2007: 3). To be sure, the discourses that posit the sacredness of the Peaks are fundamentally and simultaneously both religious and political; yet this does not necessarily mean that traditional religious claims made in contemporary political contexts are motivated by purely political considerations. Although these claims are necessarily formulated to persuade others of the incontestable “authenticity” of their claims, I suggest that the degree to which this incontestability is achieved is directly related to an accumulation and accretion of discourse resulting from nearly four decades of continuing conflict at the Peaks.

Institutional Explanations for the Persistence of Poverty on First Nations Reserves in Canada: A Review of the Native American Economic Development Literature

The institutions governing First Nations reserves in Canada are commonly cited as a key barrier to economic development. Despite these claims, few studies have empirically assessed the institutional arrangements governing reserves. Conversely, there is a much larger and more developed literature on Native American economic development and the institutions governing reservations. While there are many important differences between First Nations reserves and Native American reservations, there are several key similarities that allow for comparisons. First, the institutional arrangements governing land, specifically federal trusteeship over land, are broadly similar in both contexts. The restrictions on property, especially the prohibition on using reserve and reservation lands as collateral, also create important similarities in the availability of credit, mortgages, and other banking services. Finally, while Native American tribes generally have more sovereignty over their lands and economies, First Nations are increasingly reclaiming the right to manage their lands and economies with similar levels of autonomy. This review summarizes the Native American economic development literature in these three areas and identifies relevant considerations for First Nations in Canada. The article concludes with a discussion of future research priorities.