What Is Meant by Tribal Self-determination and Self-governance?
These are important concepts in federal Indian policy, and are also the objectives of major federal legislation. In policy, the concepts are similar to the block grant system, by which state and local governments are accorded the opportunity to administer federal programs directly. Under the self-determination and self-governance laws, tribes have been accorded the authority to control and operate federally-funded and administered programs whenever tribal governments choose to do so. Moreover, these laws affirm the fundamental American belief that local problems are best resolved at the local level using the collective resources of the nation.
