Native American Nations: Policy and Governance (PB AF 599D)
Instructor Laura Evans, Associate Professor, Evans School
Quarter Winter 2016
Meets Tuesdays, 9:30 am – 12:20 pm
Credits 4
There are over 550 American Indian tribal governments in the United States, including 29 federally-recognized tribes in Washington. American Indian tribal governments are long-standing, legally-recognized sovereign powers with land bases that they govern. They shape the lives of some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens and affect the interests of nearby local and state governments. This class will review how tribal governments work and how they interact with other governments in the United States. It will consider their legal status as self-governing sovereigns and the realpolitik of on-the-ground power.
If you care how environmental protection, social policy, and economic development play out in any of the 34 states with federally-recognized tribes, you should be paying attention to what American Indian tribal governments are doing. If you think you understand public management program design, and program implementation in the US, this class has surprises in store for you.
The successes of some tribal casinos have lured many outside observers into thinking that gambling revenue alone can somehow mend the devastation of culture, community, natural resources, and sacred spaces. The reality is quite different. This course will sort out the stereotypes from the truths of America’s Native Nations today.
Graduate students from all UW units are welcome. Graduate students from other departments should be able to register beginning on 11/23 at 6am by using SLN: 18435.
