Tribal Governments Research Articles

Overview and Methods for the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System - United States, 2023.

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) is a set of surveys that tracks a broad range of behaviors, experiences, and conditions that can lead to poor health among high school students. The system includes a nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and separate school-based YRBSs conducted by states, tribes, territories, and local school districts. For the 2023 national YRBS, CDC made changes to the sampling method, survey administration mode, and questionnaire. Specifically, the sampling design added an American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) supplemental sample so that separate, precise estimates could be made for AI/AN high school students, in addition to the usual sample designed to provide nationally representative data for the population of students in grades 9-12. To decrease the time needed to collect and process data, CDC changed the survey administration mode from paper-and-pencil scannable booklets to a tablet-based electronic survey. To provide national data on topics of emerging interest, CDC added new questions to the questionnaire. These new questions assessed social media use, experiences of racism at school, adverse childhood experiences, transgender identity, consent for sexual contact, and unfair discipline at school. Public health practitioners and researchers can use YRBSS data to examine the prevalence of youth health behaviors, experiences, and conditions; monitor trends; and guide interventions. This overview report describes 2023 YRBSS survey methodology, including sampling, data collection, data processing, weighting, and data analyses. The 2023 YRBS participation map, survey response rates, and a detailed examination of student demographic characteristics are included in this report. During 2023, in addition to the national YRBS, 68 site-level surveys were administered to high school students in 39 states, three tribal governments, five territories, and 21 local school districts. These site-level surveys use site-specific questionnaires that are similar to the national YRBS questionnaire but are modified to meet sites' needs. This overview and methods report is one of 11 featured in this MMWR supplement, which reports results from the 2023 national YRBS but does not include data from the 68 site-level surveys. Each report is based on data collected using methods presented in this overview report. A full description of YRBSS results and downloadable data are available (https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/index.html).

Unlocking Solutions: Innovative Approaches to Identifying and Mitigating the Environmental Impacts of Undocumented Orphan Wells in the United States.

In the United States, hundreds of thousands of undocumented orphan wells have been abandoned, leaving the burden of managing environmental hazards to governmental agencies or the public. These wells, a result of over a century of fossil fuel extraction without adequate regulation, lack basic information like location and depth, emit greenhouse gases, and leak toxic substances into groundwater. For most of these wells, basic information such as well location and depth is unknown or unverified. Addressing this issue necessitates innovative and interdisciplinary approaches for locating, characterizing, and mitigating their environmental impacts. Our survey of the United States revealed the need for tools to identify well locations and assess conditions, prompting the development of technologies including machine learning to automatically extract information from old records (95%+ accuracy), remote sensing technologies like aero-magnetometers to find buried wells, and cost-effective methods for estimating methane emissions. Notably, fixed-wing drones equipped with magnetometers have emerged as cost-effective and efficient for discovering unknown wells, offering advantages over helicopters and quadcopters. Efforts also involved leveraging local knowledge through outreach to state and tribal governments as well as citizen science initiatives. These initiatives aim to significantly contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gases and improving air and water quality.

The whole community? Assessing FEMA’s inclusion of Tribal governments in hazard mitigation efforts

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has long advocated for what it calls a “Whole Community approach” to disaster resilience and recovery. This philosophy holds that the priorities of all governmental, commercial, and interest groups should be considered, and their capabilities leveraged, in preparing for and responding to disasters. According to FEMA, federally recognized Tribal governments are part of the “Whole Community.” In this paper we use systematic content analysis techniques to examine policy documents derived from the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant program to assess whether and how FEMA has taken the concrete policy steps necessary to include Tribal governments in the “Whole Community.” We find that while FEMA has expressed interest in a more equitable and accessible program that serves the needs of Tribal governments, it has taken few practical steps toward this goal.

Pursuing Equitable Implementation of State Paid Family Leave Policies: A Case Study From Washington State on the Role of Tribal Engagement and Sovereignty

This Policy Brief describes implementation of a state-level paid family and medical leave policy in the context of Tribal government engagement and participation and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) paid leave access. The author presents a case study analysis from Washington state using an emerging Washington State Tribal PFML Policy Implementation Framework. Current gaps in State-Tribal engagement have significant implications for equitable policy access given the state’s obligations to meaningfully consult with Tribes surrounding policy-making that affects their nations and citizens, the large number of Tribal employees in the state, and the stark inequities facing AIAN people. Practice recommendations are offered for state and Tribal leaders to advance equitable AIAN access to paid leave in the future.

Reimagining hydropower in the United States

AbstractIn this Perspective, we review the clashing narratives around the role of hydropower in the United States' (US) energy future. In doing so, we reveal how hydropower is regarded as a keystone for the renewable energy transition but also viewed as a harmful technology with significant negative environmental and social impacts. These narratives can be seen in the contrasting future renewable energy visions of US government agencies, the hydropower industry, NGOs, and Tribal governments. We review critical lessons learned from past dam‐ and hydropower‐related challenges to reimagine a just energy future for the US that bridges diverse sectors, jurisdictions, and values. We conclude by highlighting some key paths forward that might result in more resilient and adaptive water and energy systems as the country strives to decarbonize.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Human Water Human Water > Water Governance Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Engineering Water > Planning Water

Crafting effective oversight for the long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel on sites at risk of climate and coastal hazards

Despite a documented push to expand nuclear energy in the U.S., the status quo of indefinite in-situ nuclear waste storage is uncertain and increasingly threatened by climate and coastal hazards. Findings from Humboldt Bay, California, one of the nation’s most vulnerable nuclear storage sites, informed recommendations for managing emergent climate and coastal hazards. The existing legislative framework was not designed to address climate and nuclear waste interactions, but more effective oversight leveraging existing federal, state, local, and Tribal government authorities could adapt spent nuclear fuel management to a climate-changed world. More effective oversight requires updated regulations and site-specific risk assessments as well as enhanced coordination across jurisdictions, disciplines, and publics to increase legitimacy, trust, accountability, and creativity in light of failed solutions to a multi-decadal issue.

Co-Design Smart Disaster Management Systems with Indigenous Communities

Tribal governments bear an uneven burden in the face of escalating disaster risks, climate change, and environmental degradation, primarily due to their deeply entrenched ties to the environment and its resources. Regrettably, accessing vital information and evidence to secure adequate funding or support poses difficulties for enrolled tribal members and their lands. In response to these challenges, this paper collaborates with tribal nations to co-design intelligent disaster management systems using AI chatbots and drone technologies. The primary objective is to explore how tribal governments perceive and experience these emerging technologies in the realm of disaster reporting practices. This paper presents participatory design studies. First, we interviewed seasoned first-line emergency managers and hosted an in-person design workshop to introduce the Emergency Reporter chatbot. Second, we organized a follow-up design workshop on tribal land to deliberate the utilization of drones within their community. Through qualitative analysis, we unveiled key themes surrounding integrating these emergency technologies within the jurisdiction of tribal governments. The findings disclosed substantial backing from tribal governments and their tribal members for the proposed technologies. Moreover, we delved into the potential of chatbots and drones to empower tribal governments in disaster management, safeguard their sovereignty, and facilitate collaboration with other agencies.

Addressing inequities and meeting needs of Indigenous communities in floodplain management

Anthropogenic impacts have altered and degraded global ecosystems. Integrated resource management offers an important solution to enhance collaboration, holistic thinking, and equity by considering diverse perspectives in decision making. In Washington State, Floodplains by Design (FbD) is a floodplain management and habitat restoration program that emphasizes bringing together diverse stakeholders and supporting conversations between local, state, and Tribal governments while enhancing environmental justice in the region. Marginalized communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by environmental disturbances. Our project interviewed Tribal natural resource managers to assess the degree to which they felt FbD was supporting their community’s needs. Our research asked three questions: (1) What Tribal needs and inequities associated with floodplains are identified by Tribal natural resource managers? (2) Are these needs and inequities being addressed by FbD? and (3) How can FbD better address these needs and inequities moving forward? We found that while the integrated approach of FbD was driving solutions in some realms, there are ways in which the program could better support needs and address inequities in Tribal communities. Specifically, we found that conventional responses to environmental challenges are rooted in modernist paradigms that have created persistent dualities, including that of human-nature and human-nonhuman. Such a paradigm is in conflict with wellbeing and self-determination of Tribal cultures that are deeply connected to Pacific salmon. In closing, we provide insights on these mechanisms and offer solutions moving forward.

Grant Agreement Funding Opportunity for Native American Tribal Governments in Nebraska (USDA)

Grant Agreement Funding Opportunity for Native American Tribal Governments in Nebraska (USDA)

Navigating University Openness in Research Policy Inconsistent with Indigenous Data Sovereignty: A Case Analysis.

Indigenous nations and communities in the United States have rights as sovereign governments to exercise control and ownership over all data and information generated by or from the tribes, tribal members, or tribal resources. Indigenous nations exercise these rights through data ownership policies established in response to unethical research practices in research involving Indigenous communities. Most universities in the U.S. have "openness in research" policies to ensure academic freedom to publish freely, exercised by retaining university control of data. Here, we describe our study of cultural ecosystem services in the St. Louis River estuary region (Nagaajiwanaang in the language Ojibwemowin) in Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, U.S., an area that includes portions of the 1854 and 1842 Ceded Territories and reservation lands of a local band of Ojibwe (hereafter referred to as "the Band"). In this university-led, Band-supported study, both the university and the Band sought ownership of data collected based on their respective policies, resulting in a research delay of nearly a year. We found that open research policies that do not consider Indigenous sovereignty can hamper collaboration between university researchers and tribal nations, even when there is broad agreement on research goals and objectives. University open research policies that do not explicitly address Indigenous sovereignty fall short of the open research principles they intend to support and should be revised. Formal adoption of principles for ethical research with sovereign tribal governments by universities is needed to improve coordination and trust among university and tribal researchers and members.

“Ready to Be Terminated”: Guy Jennison and Ottawa Traditions of Autonomy through Elimination

Abstract: The 1950s and 1960s policy of tribal termination is justly regarded as a genocidal federal effort to extinguish tribal sovereignty and identity. Some tribal leaders, however, like Guy Jennison, chief of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma from 1930 to 1962, supported termination. Jennison’s advocacy for termination developed out of an Ottawa political tradition that sought greater autonomy through embracing federal policies aimed at tribal elimination. In this political tradition, the Ottawa endeavored to escape federal control through eliminatory policies while subverting the eliminatory intentions of policy-makers by ensconcing their community in other dimensions of the dominant society. For Jennison, endorsing termination was a strategy to escape federal paternalism and gain greater control over tribal affairs. In anticipation of termination, Jennison led the Ottawas to reestablish tribal government through a state-chartered nonprofit corporation; by perpetuating tribal identity and prerogatives through this vehicle, the Ottawa undermined the eliminatory intentions of termination policy. Placing Jennison’s advocacy for termination within a longer tradition of Ottawa activism reveals the Native intellectual genealogies that informed his perspective and demonstrates how policies intending tribal elimination represented a complex site of Ottawa struggle against federal authority.

A Collections-Based View of the Future of Archaeology

AbstractThis theme issue has two primary goals: to illuminate the underdeveloped or faltering areas of the discipline as they relate to archaeological collections and to offer tangible paths forward to address the systemic problems identified as they impact the future of archaeology. Present-day archaeology is complicated due to its many sectors of practice: academia/faculty; cultural resource management; federal, state, and local government; tribal governments and communities; descendant communities; students; the general public; and different types of archaeological repositories. Given this complexity, it can be difficult to identify the expectations (and realities) of each sector, which, if better understood, would help illuminate the nuances of preservation, accountability, discoverability, and use of archaeological collections across the discipline. Without a solid understanding of these nuances, efforts to advance the discipline are undermined. This introduction provides an overview of the articles that address emerging and urgent issues and offer viable steps forward. These challenges include the interrelationships between ethics, collaboration, and training; the preservation and management of digital records and data; collections discovery and reuse; collections-based research; training in material culture; making collections knowable to constituencies outside archaeology; preparing for repatriation from a management perspective; and the intricacies of the archaeological digital data system.

The California Rancheria Termination Act of 1958: The Continuous Assertion of Tribal Governments for Self-Determination

Throughout the history of the United States, the relationship with its original inhabitants has been marked by inequity, persisting from its inception in 1776. This qualitative case study delves into the enduring repercussions of the Rancheria Termination Act of 1958 on California's American Indian communities. Guided by a transformative axiological assumption rooted in respect, beneficence, and justice, this research seeks to shed light on this act's profound and lasting impacts. The California Rancheria Termination Act of 1958 (Rancheria Act) represents a joint effort by the United States government and the State of California to circumvent federal treaty responsibilities and transfer portions of tribal lands to the state. The findings of this study reveal that the Rancheria Act (1958) set tribal governments back by over 650 years. With an average of 17 years of non-existence before restoration, the 41 tribal governments affected by inequitable and racist policies continue to wage a resilient battle to reclaim their identity. In defiance of the federal government's actions, tribal governments persist in their struggle to safeguard their culture, language, spiritual practices, societal contributions, and indigenous identity. These were once threatened by the classification of terminated rancheria inhabitants as non-Indian Indians. The study has uncovered a compelling need for further research into the holistic impact of the Rancheria Act. Such research can provide the foundation for developing initiatives that empower American Indians and tribal governments to exercise their right to self-determination. These initiatives can also foster community reconciliation, addressing historical injustices impacting present issues.

EXPLORING AI ELDERS’ CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS OF DISASTERS AND THE ROLE OF GENERATIVITY IN PREPARING FUTURE GENERATIONS

Abstract Natural and man-made disasters have a great impact on human health, especially for AI Elders. As keepers of cultural and community knowledge, AIAN Elders also serve as guides on how to best support their communities. This study focuses on a Midwestern Tribe’s cultural perceptions of disaster management, specifically being generative, or passing down disaster management knowledge and practices to future generations. In-person semi-structured interviews were conducted with eighteen Elders from the Midwestern Tribe. Recordings were transcribed, de-identified, and coded thematically using an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach. The study received approval from the Tribe’s Department of Emergency Management and the interview guide was reviewed and approved by a Community Advisory Board of six individuals. Elders described past experiences with natural and man-made disasters, including what they did before, during, and after disasters. Elders also explained how people cared for one another, including the importance of interconnectedness with all beings, caring for grandchildren, and the role of the Tribal Government in disaster management. Elders also described how culture shaped disaster management practices, such as traditional practices to follow during a storm, and the important role of Elders in teaching communities what to do when disasters happen. Exploring the role of generativity in passing on disaster-related information is one way to learn how Elders’ knowledge is valued by the community. Findings suggest that Elders can provide important guidance to Tribal governments and public health systems to determine effective disaster management strategies for AIAN communities.

Social Status and Economy of Gujjar and Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir

The Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is the paradise on earth and is the northern most part of India. It has unity in diversity as it bears multiple culture,ethnic communities and tribes . This study has analysed the social status and economy of gujjar and bakarwals tribes of jammmu and Kashmir. The study has revealed that gujjar and bakarwals of jammu and Kashmir are deprived and underprivileged. However due to continuous efforts of Department of tribal affairs government of Jammu and Kashmir and the broad vision of centre government for tribals has lead to a significant improvement in the lives of tribals of Jammu and Kashmir.

And Harm Reduction for All.

The Harm Reduction Act, a groundbreaking piece of legislation in New Mexico, provided for the legal use of paraphernalia by New Mexican residents so long as they could present their yellow sharps cards. Unfortunately, tribal governments in New Mexico were not consulted in these changes in harm reduction practices. As a result, Native American persons in New Mexico cannot access harm reduction services as freely as any other New Mexican can-and harm reduction programs are desperately needed in New Mexico. In this commentary, I examine the impact that the Harm Reduction Act has had on Native American populations in New Mexico and suggest opportunities for improving collaboration between state and tribal governments and community-based organizations.

Supporting Solidarity

Supporting Solidarity

Education with local wisdom paradigm: Teaching patterns of religious tolerance in Mbawa Village Donggo District, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara

This study aims to explore information related to the teaching pattern of religious tolerance, especially at the traditional Raju ceremony of the Mbawa Village community, Donggo District, Bima Regency. Mbawa residents are a diverse entity, both from religious and ethnic backgrounds. There are three different religions believed by the local community, namely Islam (78%), Catholicism (20%), and Protestantism (2%); and there are three ethnicities they profess namely Donggo, Flores, and Ambon. This article uses qualitative research methods with a descriptive analytical approach that aims to explain field data systematically and accurately, especially regarding the pattern of teaching religious tolerance values at the Raju traditional ceremony of the Mbawa community. This article uses Yusuf Al-Qaradawi's thesis in his thought which emphasizes the importance of teaching the values of religious tolerance for a pluralistic society. According to him, the teaching of the value of religious tolerance needs to be given to the community intensively, without discrimination towards certain religions or ethnicities. This study also wants to explain the traditions and cultural heritage of the Mbawa people through Emile Durkheim's thoughts on the role of socio-culture in bonding the relationship between religious communities. Durkheim said that to unite a plural community there needs to be a social role in the unity of rituals and common beliefs held by all citizens. This study concluded that the awareness of the Mbawa community to disseminate the values of tolerance in Raju traditional ceremonies through teaching patterns within families, educational institutions, and village and tribal government structures, succeeded in knitting positive relations between religious communities. Through the ceremony, residents also have a common awareness to coexist peacefully and nonviolently.

Toward an Effective Innovation Framework for Federal Grant-Making: an Exploration into OPA’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

States, local, tribal, and territorial governments received almost 20% of all federal spending in fiscal year 2022, about $1.2 trillion dollars (US Office of Management and Budget, 2023a). For a strong, well-functioning democracy, the federal government must be able to disperse grant funds efficiently and effectively. Rates of teen pregnancy in the USA, while decreasing in recent years, are still consistently higher than that of other western industrialized nations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). The Office of Population Affairs’ (OPA) Teen Pregnancy Prevention program combines cutting edge research with innovative grant distribution to creatively tackle this issue. In this commentary, we explore some of the strengths of OPA’s grant distribution program in the hope that others may emulate best practices from this program. Specifically, the special issue highlights how OPA’s grant program took a customer-centered focus by prioritizing work with end users and community. This evidence-based focus enabled the testing of ideas, which in turn could be iterated and scaled up. Through grantee innovation networks, they created space for external expertise, creative thinking, and diversity of thought. Other programs, policymakers, and their partners may learn from OPA’s success, which arises from three core characteristics: (1) their funding stature allows long-term and flexible allocation of funding toward innovation; (2) OPA focuses on creating and supporting local communities and networks of innovation; (3) OPA emphasizes evidence-based decision-making and rigorous evaluation throughout the grant process. With a fifth of the federal budget being dispersed through grant-making and teen pregnancy still at high rates, OPA offers an exciting avenue for innovation and success in both of these areas. This commentary concludes with some recommendations for future practice.

Return of Participants' Incidental Genetic Research Findings: Experience from a Case-Control Study of Asthma in an American Indian Community.

The proper communication of clinically actionable findings to participants of genetic research entails important ethical considerations, but has been challenging for a variety of reasons. We document an instance of the return of individual genetic results in the context of a very rural American Indian community, in hopes of providing insight to other investigators about potentially superior or inferior courses of action. This was a case/control study of asthma among 324 pediatric participants. Subsequently, microarray genotype data became available, providing over 2 million variants, incidentally including some conferring risk for conditions for which the American College of Medical Genetics recommends return of results. The study investigators engaged in extensive consultation with the IRB, the tribal government, and local clinicians to better inform our approach. We were able to notify the two participants heterozygous for the one clinically actionable variant identified. One participant welcomed this information and proceeded to obtain further clinical work-up; the other participant declined further follow-up. While demanding considerable time and effort, the return of clinically actionable genetic results is important from both an ethical perspective and to provide an improved trust relationship with the community of research participants.