Randall Akee
Director, Project on Indigenous Governance and Development and Julie Johnson Kidd Professor of Indigenous Governance and Development
Indigenous Governance
When Native nations make their own decisions they consistently outperform external decision-makers. Today, we’re answering the question: How can Indigenous governments exercise their sovereignty for better outcomes across the board?
Related Programs
Research from the Project on Indigenous Governance and Development shows that when Native nations exercise their sovereignty it leads to better outcomes across the board —from education to natural resource management. Yet, the path to sovereignty and self-governance isn’t always straightforward.
Our work aims to arm Indigenous people themselves with the tools to build thriving self-governments and strengthen their economic, social, and cultural fabrics. From events to research, we encourage you to explore the below to learn more about how we’re fostering Indigenous governance and nation-building.
Meet the Experts
Eric Henson
Program Director of the Ittapila Program for Nation Building Education and Outreach Endowment at the Project for Indigenous Governance and Development; Lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School
Joseph Kalt
Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, Emeritus
Megan Minoka Hill
Senior Program Director, Project on Indigenous Governance and Development; Director, Honoring Nations
The Latest News, Research, and Resources
Additional Resource
American Indian Self-Determination Through Self-Governance: The Only Policy That Has Ever Worked
“The onset of tribal self-determination through self-government in the late 1980s ushered in the only policy that has ever worked to improve economic and social conditions in Indian Country.”
Media Release
New research on the impacts of restrictions on the applicability of federal Indian policy to the Wabanaki Nations in Maine
A team of researchers from the Harvard Kennedy School today released a research report documenting the costs to the Wabanaki Nations in Maine and to Maine’s non-tribal citizens of the state’s being screened off from federal policies of Indian self-determination and self-governance.
Policy Brief
Economic and Social Impacts of Restrictions on the Applicability of Federal Indian Policies to the Wabanaki Nations in Maine
The subjugation of the Wabanaki Nation’s self-governing capacities is blocking economic development to the detriment of both tribal and nontribal citizens, alike.
Feature
Returning land to Native nations is about righting historical wrongs—and also stemming future environmental disaster
Speaking at Harvard Kennedy School, landback movement leader Alvin Warren MC/MPA 2013 argues for the return of land to Indigenous communities
Media Release
Researchers with Harvard Project Examine Federal and State Landback Options for Tribal Nations
Researchers from the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development (Harvard Project) released a policy brief outlining how to identify lands historically belonging to Indian nations that could be returned by the U.S. federal and state government—a process commonly referred to as landback.
Policy Brief
Considerations for Federal and State Landback
This policy brief showcases how geographic information system (GIS) techniques can be used to identify public and/or protected land in relation to current and historic reservation boundaries, and presents maps showcasing the scope of landback opportunities.
Feature
Reckoning with past injustices with respect and responsibility
Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development’s Megan Minoka Hill delivers land acknowledgment at 2022 Kennedy School diploma ceremony
Feature
Lessons from and for Indian Country
Joel Chastain MC/MPA 2022 is taking lessons learned from the Chickasaw Nation and Harvard Kennedy School to promote tribal economic development.
Feature
Climate change a multiplier for racial inequities warns panel
Listening to and learning from people of color and Indigenous people is critical to tackling climate and racial injustice.
Feature
Story of Igiugig
Patrick Lynch MC/MPA 2019 partnered with Indigenous filmmakers to tell the story of native sovereignty in Alaska.
Video
Honoring Nations 2021 Awards Presentations
Six exceptional tribal programs were selected by the Harvard Project’s Honoring Nations Program as finalists for the prestigious 2021 awards in American Indian governance. At the heart of Honoring Nations is the principle that tribes themselves hold the key to generating social, political, cultural, and economic prosperity and that self-governance plays a crucial role in building and sustaining strong, healthy Indian nations.
2021’s outstanding finalists were:
- Agua Caliente People Curriculum
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians - Cherokee Nation ONE FIRE
Cherokee Nation - Energy Lifeline Sector Resilience: Low-carbon Microgrids
Blue Lake Rancheria - Pe Sla
The Great Sioux Nation - Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Lab
Sitka Tribe of Alaska - Swinomish Tax Authority
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Commentary
Honoring and Fostering Innovation in Indian Country
Through its latest round of awardees in the Honoring Nations program, the Harvard Project highlights how Indigenous people are tackling the challenges of (re)building healthy, vibrant nations.
Policy Brief
Assessing the U.S. Treasury Department’s Allocations of Funding for Tribal Governments under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Media Release
New Harvard Project Research Examines ARPA Distributions to Tribal Nations, Finds Funding to be “Grossly Inequitable”
Video
Navigating the American Rescue Plan Act: A Series for Tribal Nations, Session 7
From setting tribal priorities to building infrastructure to managing and sustaining projects, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) presents an unprecedented opportunity for the 574 federally recognized tribal nations to use their rights of sovereignty and self-government to strengthen their communities. As the tribes take on the challenges presented by the Act, the Ash Center’s Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development hosted a series designed to assist tribes, to help tribes learn from each other and from a wide array of guest experts.
During this session, the seventh in the series, following a round of discussion between the panelists, a brief Q+A session was held to maximize the opportunities for audience participation.
This session, titled “Direct Relief for Tribal Citizens: Getting beyond Per Caps” featured:
- Rodney Butler, Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
- Cathy Chavers, Chairwoman, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
- Miriam Jorgensen, HKS 1991 MPP 2000 PhD, Research Director, Native Nations Institute, University of Arizona
- Kevin Killer, President, Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Karen Diver, Moderator, HKS 2003 MPA, Board of Governors, Honoring Nations, Harvard Project