Indigenous Governance Database
Constitutions
Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians: Governmental Structure Excerpt
ARTICLE VI. ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT A. Purpose, Fundamental Rights. We, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, speak through this document to assert that we are a distinct nation of Anishinaabek of North America that possess the right to: self-determination; freely determine our…
Chairman Dave Archambault II: Laying the Foundation for Tribal Leadership and Self-governance
Chairman Archambault’s wealth and breadth of knowledge and experience in the tribal labor and workforce development arena is unparalleled. He currently serves as the chief executive officer of one of the largest tribes in the Dakotas, leading 500 tribal government employees and overseeing an array…
Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina: Recall, Removal, & Vacancies Excerpt
Article IV. Recall. 1. The power to recall any elected official of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina who is in the second calendar year or later in his or her term is specifically reserved for the general membership of the Tribe. 2. A recall election shall be held when a petition bearing the…
Kaw Nation: Initiative & Referendum Excerpt
ARTICLE XII: INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM Section 1. The citizens of the Kaw Nation reserve unto themselves the power of initiative and referendum. Section 2. Initiative. Any issue shall be submitted for an initiative election pursuant to this section upon receipt of a petition containing valid…
Nez Perce Tribe: Legislative Functions Excerpt
ARTICLE VIII POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE NEZ PERCE TRIBAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Section 1. The NPTEC shall have the following powers, to be exercised in accordance with this Constitution and with the applicable statutes of the United States. (A) To represent the Tribe in negotiations with federal,…
Hopi Tribe: Governmental Structure Excerpt
ARTICLE III-ORGANIZATION SECTION 1. The Hopi Tribe is a union of self-governing villages sharing common interests and working for the common welfare of all. It consists of the following recognized villages: First Mesa (consolidated villages of Walpi, Shitchumovi, and Tewa). Mishongnovi. Sipaulavi…
Pueblo of Laguna: Elections Excerpt
ARTICLE III - THE PUEBLO COUNCIL, STAFF OFFICERS AND SETTLEMENTS Section 1. - The Pueblo Council. The governing power of the Pueblo shall be vested in the Pueblo of Laguna Council. The Pueblo Council, functioning as one (1) governmental entity, shall be composed of the following officials: (a) One…
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate: Elections Excerpt
ARTICLE V - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS SECTION 1. The first election of the Council under this Revised Constitution shall be called, held and supervised by the present Council within one hundred twenty (120) days after its approval. Successful candidates at this first election shall assume office…
Haida Nation: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
ARTICLE 1 HAIDA TERRITORIES A1.S1 The Territories of the Haida Nation include the entire lands of Haida Gwaii, the surrounding waters, sub-surface and the air space. The waters include the entire Dixon Entrance, half of the Hecate Straits, halfway to Vancouver Island and Westward into the abyssal…
Westbank First Nation: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
2. Aboriginal Rights and Title 2.1 Westbank is part of the Okanagan Nation which has occupied and benefited from Okanagan traditional territory since time immemorial. 2.2 Westbank has never ceded, surrendered, or in any way relinquished aboriginal title and will continue to assert its interests and…
Yurok Tribe: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
ARTICLE I - TERRITORY , JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY SECTION 1 - Ancestral Lands The Ancestral Lands of the Yurok Tribe extend unbroken along the Pacific Ocean coast (including usual and customary offÂshore fishing areas) from Damnation Creek, its northern boundary, to the southern boundary of the…
Tohono O'odham Nation: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
ARTICLE I - JURISDICTION Section 1. The sovereign powers, authority and jurisdiction of the Tohono O'odham Nation and of its government shall extend to all lands within the boundaries of the Tohono O'odham Nation established by Executive Orders: December 12, 1882, modified June 17, 1909 (Gila Bend…
Rosebud Sioux Tribe: Elections Excerpt
Article VI - Elections Section 1. Any enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, at least eighteen (18) years of age, who has resided for at least thirty (30) days immediately prior to the election day in the district in which he anticipates to vote, is qualified to vote. (Amendment XIV effective…
Rosebud Sioux Tribe: Legislative Functions Excerpt
Article IV - Powers of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council Section 1. Enumerated powers - The Council of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe shall exercise the following powers subject to any limitations imposed by the statutes or the Constitution of the United States, and subject further to all express…
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
ARTICLE I - TERRITORY AND JURISDICTION Section 1. The authority and jurisdiction of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation shall extend to the fullest extent possible, including, without limitation, (a) to any and all persons, including non-members and members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and…
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians: Elections Excerpt
ARTICLE V NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS Section 1. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. The candidate or issue receiving the greatest number of votes cast shall prevail. In the event more than one representative is required to be elected for a district, the positions shall be filled by the…
Seneca Nation: Terms of Office Excerpt
SECTION I. Our government shall have a legislative, executive, and judiciary department. The legislative power shall be vested in a Council of sixteen members, who shall be known and called the Councillors of the Seneca Nation of Indians, eight Councillors elected to the Council shall be from the …
Skokomish Indian Tribe: Terms of Office Excerpt
ARTICLE IV - TRIBAL COUNCIL Sec. 4. Terms of Office Each Tribal Council member shall be elected for a term of four (4) years. Terms of office for the seven (7) council members shall be staggered, two (2) members being elected each year for three (3) consecutive years and one (1) member being…
Hoopa Valley Tribe: Recall, Removal, & Vacancies Excerpt
ARTICLE VII - VACANCIES, REMOVAL, RECALL AND REFERENDUM Section 1. If any member of the Tribal Council or other elected official shall die, resign, be removed from office or shall be found guilty while in office of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in any Indian, State or Federal…
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes: Terms of Office Excerpt
ARTICLE VI - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Section 3. Terms. District Legislator's shall serve four year staggered terms of office. A Legislator shall be eligible to serve three consecutive terms under this Constitution. Upon the completion of the third consecutive term, the Legislator shall not be eligible…