Self Governance

Self-Governance is fundamentally designed to provide Tribal governments with more control and decision-making authority over the federal financial resources provided for the benefit of Indian people.  Self-Governance is premised on the government-to-government relationship that exists between Indian Tribes and the United States as Sovereign nations.  Self-Governance provides administratively the opportunity for Tribal governments to exercise their sovereignty with minimal federal interference and involvement.

Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 or ISDEAA has been a Tribally driven initiative made possible through Congressional authorization and appropriate support.  The Act reversed a 30-year effort by the federal government under its preceding termination policy to sever treaty relationships with and obligations to Indian tribes. More importantly, Self-Governance fostered the shaping of a "new partnership" between Tribes and the United States in their government-to­government relationships. 

Self-Governance was proposed by Tribes who, twelve years after passage of Public Law 93-638 continued to be frustrated with the Federal Indian bureaucracy as exhibited by the BIA and early IHS.  As a way to demonstrate a Tribe’s ability to manage federal funds and administer the associated federal programs, Tribes had to go through the a five year demonstration project phase as required in Title III of P.L. 93-638, as amended.  Once satisfactorily completing the demonstration phase, then a Tribe would be considered fully compacted as amendments to include Title IV (1994) and Title V (2000), Department of Interior and Indian Health Service, respectively came on line.