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Tribal Constitutions

Structuring Sovereignty: Constitutions of Native Nations

Structuring Sovereignty: Constitutions of Native Nations, part of the Tribal Legal Studies Textbook Series, is designed to serve as a guide to communities engaged in the process of drafting a constitution and to students who are studying that process. For any nation, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, drafting and adopting a constitution is more than a legal process. It is a collective journey of self-discovery and reflection. New governing opportunities, changes in intergovernmental relations, heightened awareness of the importance of culturally legitimate governing institutions, and reforms in international law are generating a wave of constitution writing and constitutional reform among Native nations. This book draws on research, first hand experience with constitution writing and constitutional change, and numerous examples from actual governing documents to demonstrate the many ways that Indigenous nations can structure their sovereignty. (2014)

Nation Building Toolboxes are online, mixed media, learning tools which can assist in meeting the needs of Indigenous leaders and decision makers. Assembled from the real-world experiences of hundreds of Native nations, the toolboxes serve as a central resource of information on how to implement and sustain best practices in community self-governance. They are hosted and curated by the Native Nations Institute (NNI) at the University of Arizona and the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development (Harvard Project) at Harvard University, and feature contributions of partners with valuable knowledge to share.

The Constitutions Resource Center is a new component within NNI’s Indigenous Governance Database, an online resource dedicated to Native nation building, governance, and leadership.

The following tribal nations post their constitutions on their websites. 

Alabama


Alaska


Arizona


California


Connecticut


Idaho


Indiana


Iowa


Kansas


Louisiana


Maine


Massachusetts


Michigan


Minnesota

 

Mississippi


Montana


Nebraska


Nevada


New Mexico


New York


North Dakota


Oklahoma


Oregon


South Dakota


Texas


Washington


Wisconsin


Other Resources for Tribal Constitutions 

 Other Tribal Constitution Resources


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