The Crisis in Native Governments in the 21st Century

Abstract

Indigenous peoples face intense competition and threats to identity and community from the globalization of information, markets and nation-state relations. Native communities are predisposed to meet the challenges of globalization on their own cultural and political terms. A crisis in Native governments results from Native reconsideration of traditional, colonial and American models of government. All three government forms are not entirely suitable to meet the challenges of present-day globalization or are not compatible with Native cultures. Native communities will most likely meet the challenges of globalization with creative economic and political constructions that include Native cultural understandings and values.